Europa League final loss wouldn’t be shock to Man Utd fans – Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United fans who are surprised if they lose to Tottenham in the Europa League final are “lunatics”.

Sixteenth-placed United slumped to their 18th Premier League defeat of the season on Friday as they went down 1-0 at Chelsea, despite manager Ruben Amorim fielding a strong team.

They take on a Spurs side one position below them in the table, but who have beaten them three times this season, twice in the league and also in the Carabao Cup.

“I don’t think the fans can be too surprised,” TNT expert Ferdinand said should United fall short in the final.

“I think the real, honest fans will look at this as a 50/50 game, because they (Spurs) have beaten us three times already this season, so it won’t be a surprise if they beat us for a fourth time.

“It will only be the stupid people who are going, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe this’.

“We’re 16th because we’ve lost a lot of games. I think we’ve lost 18 games this season, so anyone who’s surprised if we don’t win this game against Spurs is a lunatic in my eyes.”

Victory in Wednesday’s showpiece in Bilbao would give the winners a place in next season’s Champions League and with it welcome extra revenue to spend on players.

Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League during 12 years at Old Trafford, believes victory could spark a “new era” for United.

“With Manchester United, they need the money to recruit for this manager and it’s a vital period for him in that sense,” he said.

“I do think it’s a chance to press the restart button and it will be a new era if these are the guys who managed to win.

“(They will feel like), ‘We’ve seen what it’s like to win and let’s replicate that in the Premier League’.

“It’s a chance to create a narrative which is advantageous for the players who are there.”

United boss Amorim earlier this month raised the prospect of a change in the dugout should his side’s poor form continue into next season.

On those comments, Ferdinand added: “His quotes were there for all to see the other day – next season if it’s the same after a couple of months then maybe it’s the chance for someone else. I think he said that himself and I think that’s fair.”

Watch the UEFA Europa League Final exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+ the home of European football from 6pm. Wednesday 21st May