Manchester United’s stars are unhappy after only being offered two tickets per player for the Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao.
Even though United could hit a £100million jackpot if they win the game a week on Wednesday and qualify automatically for next season’s Champions League, co-owners Ineos are still determined to keep costs to a minimum.
United are giving their players the two complimentary tickets for friends and family, and seats on a charter flight to Spain which lands 60 miles away in Santander on the morning of the game. The guests will also have day access to food and drinks in a meeting room at the team hotel.
However, they won’t even have the chance to celebrate with the players if United beat Spurs at the San Mames because the return flight from Santander – more than an hour’s drive from Bilbao – leaves at 2.15am.
The players can buy up to 10 more tickets from UEFA at face value – priced from £200 down to £55 – but would have to pay for the additional flights and hotel rooms. A package with United’s travel partner would cost around £900.
Even if they wanted to pay for a private jet themselves, they may not be able to secure a landing slot in the Basque Country at such short notice.
Manchester United’s players are unhappy at the cost-cutting measures for the club’s Europa League final appearance
United are giving their players the two complimentary tickets for friends and family, and seats on a charter flight to Spain which lands 60 miles away from Bilbao on the morning of the game
It’s understood that the support staff who travel with United, including kit men, have not been allowed complimentary tickets for family and friends.
Both finalists have been given an allocation of around 15,000 each and while Spurs are offering a free ticket to every full-time employee, United have only set aside a small number for a staff ballot.
Staff who cannot go have been invited to a screening at Diecast in Manchester where they will be offered two free drinks. They are allowed to take a plus one, who will have to pay for themselves.
Final insult for fans
United have come under fire for selling four-figure corporate packages, including a match ticket, for the Europa League final.
Sportsworld – a sister company of United’s official travel partner Sportsbreaks – offered day trips and overnight stays to fans hoping to travel to Bilbao.
The day trip, priced at £1,850, features a match ticket, a charter flight and a pre-match meal. The five-star two-night package cost £2,850, and included a hotel in Santander, all transfers, a welcome reception and a pre-match function at a local restaurant. The four-star price is £2,150 – and is the only one still available.
All trips advertised come with a message that reads: ‘If you have not secured tickets through the club directly, don’t worry’, which has irked supporters who have missed out on a golden ticket for the final. ‘How are United allowed to get away with this?’ asked one fan.
Sources insist United’s overwhelming priority is maximising tickets for supporters, and that more than 90 per cent of their 14,770 allocation have gone directly to eligible fans successful in the ballot.
Ruben’s all talked out
Ruben Amorim has given almost 500 interviews over the course of this season
Broadcasters take up their full contractual rights with United, but don’t with some of the smaller clubs, and then push the interview more on social media because it gets more clicks
Judging by the comments on a post by Sky Sports promoting a clip from Ruben Amorim’s pre-match interview for the Chelsea game on Friday, you would have thought the United boss had picked up the phone himself and summoned a camera crew to Carrington.
Amorim repeated much of what he said 24 hours earlier after Sunday’s defeat to West Ham left United in 16th place in the table, admitting the situation was ‘embarrassing’ and ‘unacceptable’.
‘This is ridiculous now, another interview’, read one post. ‘Another interview with more negative vibes from this guy’, said another.
Then there was: ‘I was not kidding when I said Ruben Amorim would break into the Guinness Book of World Records for most interviews done by a football manager’. And … ‘I’m definitely sure he called for the interview’.
However, Confidential understands that Amorim only does what he is contractually obliged to do under Premier League rules. And even though United try to keep it to a minimum, the current total is still a staggering 491 and counting.
The deal sold to broadcasters by the league entitles them to interview every manager for 15 minutes before every game, and Amorim gets more airtime simply because he is head coach of the biggest club in the country.
Broadcasters take up their full contractual rights with United, but don’t with some of the smaller clubs, and then push the interview more heavily on social media because it gets more clicks.
To best outline his schedule, Amorim is also mandated to do seven interviews after every league game with rights-holding broadcasters.
Amorim’s first post-match interview was briefly interrupted by Ipswich Town fan Ed Sheeran
That is then followed up with a post-match press conference for written media. If the game is televised, he would also be required to speak to Sky Sports, TNT Sports or Amazon Prime, whoever is showing the game, before and after the match in separate interviews.
Of his 39 games as United’s head coach, 33 of them have been televised.
Away from matchday, Amorim holds a weekly pre-match press conference and he is also mandated to do a sit-down with one of Sky, BBC or TNT (whoever is broadcasting the game) before each televised game.
He will then do a separate in-house interview before each league game for United’s own media team.
The truth is that one of the aspects of English football that Amorim has found hardest to adapt to since arriving in November is the number of interviews he has to do every week.
After his very first match away at Ipswich in November, he said: ‘This week, I spoke more than four years in Sporting. I just want to work with my players, nothing more, but I understand this is a different game here.’
Reds too bus-y for parade
Even if United were inclined to parade the Europa League trophy on an open-top bus just days before their worst-ever Premier League finish is confirmed, there simply wouldn’t have been enough time to organise it before the final home game of the season against Aston Villa.
If United beat Tottenham in Bilbao, they won’t land in Manchester until Thursday and immediately have to start preparations for Villa’s visit on Sunday. After the game, they leave straight for a post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Even if United beat Tottenham in Bilbao, they won’t be able to hold a trophy parade
United save their parades for the Premier League and Champions League, meaning fans have not seen one since 2013
That aside, there still wouldn’t be too much cause or celebration after such a difficult season that is already doomed to be United’s worst in the Premier League era. They are currently 16th and could finish one place above the relegation zone.
For many years now, the club have reserved a parade for Champions League and Premier League celebrations only. United didn’t have an open-top bus for the Europa League win over Ajax in 2017 and wouldn’t have done if they had beaten Villarreal in the 2021 final either.
Instead, the players are expected to enjoy a private barbecue with their families and other staff during the tight turnaround if they can overcome Spurs at the San Mames.
Kids wait on late tour call
Amorim has vowed to take a strong squad with him to Hong Kong and Malaysia for the end-of-season tour.
But it is understood the exact make-up of the travelling party could go right to the wire with some senior players less-than-impressed at the idea of the trek to the Far East.
United’s tour starts against ASEAN All Stars in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. They will then face Hong Kong, China, at the Hong Kong Stadium before returning home.
Despite both the Under 18s’ and Under 21s’ seasons coming to an end over the past weekend, those teams will continue training as normal as many of them wait for the last-minute call-up to the tour.
‘The whole group will carry on training to support the first team and make sure whatever they need is in place,’ said Under 21s lead coach Travis Binnion.
Travis Binnion will hope to see a large cohort from his Under 21s squad on the first-team’s post-season tour of Asia
United make their return to Hong Kong this summer having previously toured there in 2013, 2005 (pictured) and 1999
‘Things can change with the post-season tour right up to the very last minute by nature of injuries or internationals. That won’t be completely set until the lads get on the plane. There is a lot of stuff to keep going on.’
It was noteworthy, too, that at the Under 21s match last Friday, Amorim’s assistant Adelio Candido came down to cast his eye over the youngsters in what was seen as a nod to potential call-ups for the tour.
Candido is far from a regular at academy games but was in deep conversation with technical director Jason Wilcox at the City Football Academy. Watch this space…
£50k bid well above benchmark
An original bench that was bolted to a terrace in the Stretford End and removed when Old Trafford was redeveloped in 1992 has sold at auction for £49,600
Seat numbers 41 and 42 are still just about visible on the faded red bench which was taken out when the West Stand was built
An original bench that was bolted to a terrace in the Stretford End and removed when Old Trafford was redeveloped in 1992 has sold at auction for £49,600.
Seat numbers 41 and 42 are still just about visible on the faded red bench which was taken out when the West Stand was built. It was expected to fetch between £800 and £1,200 at Graham Budd Auctions last week, but is now officially the world’s most valuable supporters’ bench.
The two-day sale, billed as ‘An Auction of Two Halves’, included a dedicated Manchester United section on the second day.
David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia and collectables at Graham Budd Auctions, said: ‘The Stretford End is etched into the identity of Manchester United, and the nostalgia tied to this bench clearly struck a chord with the private collector.
‘The final price is a real testament to the strength of football heritage and the growing appetite to own a tangible piece of that history. Stadium relics like this carry real emotional resonance, connecting with collectors’ memories and passion for the game.’
Food for thought as United plan to knock down Old Trafford and a build a new £2billion next door – if only to grab a valuable souvenir or two in the process.
Ten Hag’s No 2 backs Amorim
It’s coming up for a year since United’s win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final gave Erik ten Hag a stay of execution, and the Dutchman’s assistant Mitchell van der Gaag hopes the club show patience with Ruben Amorim as well.
Van der Gaag is credited with putting together the motivational videos that inspired United to beat City 2-1 at Wembley in what was his final game before leaving last summer to pursue a managerial job.
Mitchell van der Gaag (left) is credited with putting together the motivational videos that inspired United to beat City 2-1 at Wembley in his final game at the club
Van der Gaag and Erik ten Hag won the League Cup and FA Cup in their time at United
Ten Hag lasted another three months before he was sacked and Van der Gaag insists Amorim needs time to make his mark after he was appointed in November at a time when United were experiencing upheaval throughout the club.
Despite leading United to the Europa League final, the Portuguese coach has won just six of his 25 Premier League games and admitted after Sunday’s defeat to West Ham that he may have to walk away if things don’t improve next season.
‘Yes, a coach always needs victories to transmit his ideas and for the players to believe in him,’ Van der Gaag told A Bola.
‘Arriving in the middle of the season is always difficult, and more so with the change that is happening in the structure: training centre, stadium, and there are people who cannot stay at the club and will be fired. There is a lot around the club.
‘Then a coach arrives who is top here in Portugal, but he is faced with this reality. He has no control over it and needs to work. It’s not easy and I really hope you have time to change.’
After some time out of the game, Van der Gaag insists he is ready for a new challenge. ‘That’s my goal and I hope something will come up in the summer,’ he added.
Tyler’s a top contender
There are plenty of contenders for this season’s Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year, awarded to the best academy player in any given season.
Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are among the previous winners, with the award steeped in club history.
Our vote for the best academy player of the season goes to midfielder Tyler Fletcher, son of former United player Darren
Jack (left) and Tyler have both come through at the club where their father won 13 trophies
Confidential’s vote this season goes to midfielder Tyler Fletcher, one of the sons of former United first-teamer Darren.
Fletcher has made huge strides this season, and while he is not among the group to make the step up to the first-team like Harry Amass, another contender for this award, his progress has been the talk of academy circles.
‘Tyler is up there with the players who have made the biggest improvement,’ Under 21s lead coach Travis Binnion told Confidential last week. ‘That is not a surprise. He is a good footballer. His body is settling down. He is becoming more mature. His progress is really pleasing.’
Dad Darren was there to watch Tyler start the Under 21s’ season-ending 2-0 defeat at Manchester City in the Premier League 2 play-offs on Friday when Tyler was the standout for United on the night.
His other son, Jack, has had a number of setbacks in the back-half of the season which has shifted the focus to Tyler, and he has not shrunk in the spotlight. Tyler, who represents Scotland internationally, finished the season with 18 goal involvements from 32 games.
RED alert in health battle
Among the mascots for Sunday’s game against West Ham was 12-year-old Lubona Mudenda from Zambia whose mother is a spokesperson for RED, the charity featured on the front of United’s shirts.
As part of their £60m-a-year deal with the club, sponsors Qualcomm can nominate a charitable organisation to replace Snapdragon for one game each season. They chose RED which was co-founded by U2 singer Bono to tackle the AIDS epidemic and fight global health injustice.
Among the mascots for Sunday’s game against West Ham was a 12-year-old girl from Zambia whose mother is a spokesperson for RED, the charity featured on the front of United’s shirts
Speaking before the game, 54-year-old Connie Mudenda from the Zambian capital Lusaka explained how she has been living with HIV since the age of 20 and lost three children to the disease.
‘There was no medicine at that time in my country,’ she said. ‘But I was able to have a child who is among the mascots out there. She turns 13 this year and she is HIV free.
‘Manchester United have a huge following worldwide, which I believe is about one billion people. When you come to my country and United play, you see red in the whole town as if the game is happening in Lusaka even though it’s here at Old Trafford.
‘That’s how committed people are to sport. It’s a religion. If they incorporate health into sport, the fight against HIV and injustice is going to be heard by a lot of people.’
Louie is next level
Young academy striker Louie Bradbury is one to watch heading into next season
Young academy striker Louie Bradbury is one to watch heading into next season.
The Under 16s forward finished the season with 41 goals and had a number of landmarks to look back on.
Bradbury made his Under 18s debut and scored on his first start for Adam Lawrence’s team, made his Under 21s debut, his FA Youth Cup debut, was top scorer for the Under 19s during one indoor tournament this past season, won eight caps for Wales’ Under 17s, and scored his first international hat-trick for his country.
Wasserman client Bradbury, who has already been snapped up by brands including Skechers, is generating plenty of excitement at Carrington and in FA of Wales (FAW) circles as he looks to solidify himself in the Under 18s and Under 21s next season.
