Manchester United’s players will be limited to just two complimentary tickets each for next week’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, as part of a tightening of perks amid ongoing cost-saving efforts at the club.
The squad have been informed they can buy up to 10 additional tickets for family and friends for the 21 May showdown at San Mamés Stadium, but will be left to sort travel and accommodation arrangements themselves. The logistical burden now falls on the players to coordinate access to the northern Spanish city, as the club prioritises directing more of its 15,000 ticket allocation to travelling fans.
The move comes against a backdrop of stringent financial tightening at Old Trafford. In recent months, the club has carried out staff redundancies and scrapped complimentary staff lunches — decisions that have not gone unnoticed among employees and supporters alike.
In a further sign of scaled-back operations, United’s post-match celebration plans — should they triumph over Spurs — will consist of a modest barbeque at Carrington, rather than a public parade. While Tottenham are yet to reveal their intentions in the event of victory, it is expected they will opt for a more traditional trophy procession. Recent examples include Newcastle’s parade for their Carabao Cup win and Liverpool’s planned celebration later this month for their league title.
United, by contrast, have not held a trophy parade since their last league title in 2013, the year Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out. The absence of such celebrations has previously caused frustration among players, notably in 2008 when the club declined to mark their Champions League triumph with a parade through Manchester.
Holding one this season would pose significant logistical challenges. Just four days after the final in Spain, United host Aston Villa in their final Premier League match of the season. The following day, the squad are due to jet off to Asia for post-season friendlies in Malaysia and Hong Kong, returning home on 31 May — only for several players to immediately report for international duty.
Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, for instance, are expected to feature for Portugal in the Nations League semi-final against Germany on 4 June. South American and European World Cup qualifiers follow soon after.
Meanwhile, in a further cost-conscious move, club staff have been informed they will not receive complimentary tickets for the final — a long-standing tradition — and will instead be invited to a central Manchester viewing party.
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