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IOL News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Manchester United unworthy of parade if they win Europa League, says Gary Neville
'Know it all' football pundit Gary Neville Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville says Manchester United don't deserve a parade if they win the Europa League. Photo: Conor Molloy/ProSportsImages/DPPI via AFP Image: Conor Molloy/ProSportsImages/DPPI via AFP Gary Neville has said Manchester United do not deserve a parade if they win the Europa League on Wednesday. Ruben Amorim's side face fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao as they bid to win United's first European trophy since they lifted the same cup in 2017. Victory would also see United qualify for next season's Champions League despite a dire domestic season. An open-top bus parade through a city after winning a major football trophy is now standard procedure for successful English football clubs, with delirious fans lining the streets in celebration. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ But former United and England defender Neville, speaking to the Stick to Football podcast, said: "If Manchester United win, they'll celebrate a trophy but there will be a cautious celebration tomorrow (Thursday) –- not by the fans, though, because they'll obviously go crazy. "Their interviews will be along the lines of them saying that they're so happy and delighted for the fans, but it's been a difficult season. "That will be the tone of it. I don't think there should be a parade through the city for them winning the Europa League." United are currently 16th in the Premier League table, only two places above the relegation zone, with Spurs 17th, and are on course for their lowest finish in the top flight since 1974, when they were relegated from the old First Division. Amorim's team have won only 10 of their 37 matches so far and lost 18, with no wins in their last eight league fixtures. The Europa League has been another matter, however, with their remarkable 7-6 aggregate win in the quarter-finals over Lyon followed by a dominant victory over Athletic Bilbao to book a return to the Spanish city. IOL Sport Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
'Wing wizard' Harry Maguire aims to solidify Manchester United's defence in Europa League final
FILE - Manchester United defender Harry Maguire says they have to be solid at the back in their Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. Image: Conor Molloy / ProSportsImages / DPPI via AFP Surprise wing wizard Harry Maguire says he hopes he can stay in his defensive comfort zone for Manchester United in the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday despite his attacking cameos earlier in the competition. Ruben Amorim's men have the chance to end a disastrous season on a high in Bilbao against their Premier League rivals, who are also enduring a terrible campaign. Central defender Maguire scored the winning goal in a remarkable comeback against Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, with United winning 7-6 on aggregate. Then he dazzled on the wing to help set up the first goal in the first leg of the semi-final against Bilbao -- a tie that ended 7-1 after the two legs. The former United captain was asked on Tuesday whether his forward forays were part of a new tactical masterplan by Amorim. "The manager has me dribbling every day in training," he joked. "No, listen, I found myself on the wing against Bilbao and managed to put a good cross in. "Cas (Casemiro) has scored the goal. No, someone has just asked me before that. Obviously, I've gone up front in the later minutes of the game (against Lyon). "Tomorrow night, hopefully, I'm not going up front. I don't want to be going up front and chasing a game. I want to be defending the lead." He added: "I'm always there to help, I'm always there to do my best but I'm more than happy playing in my favourite position." Hero to villain The England international, 32, has played regularly this season after a difficult period in which he fell out of favour under former United manager Erik ten Hag, also losing the captaincy. But he said it was "amazing" to be playing regularly again. "This season I have played a lot of football. I don't take too much notice of the plaudits from the media and things like that," he said. "When you play for this club you can be an amazing player and the following week you can be the villain. That's part and parcel of playing for this club. "I don't read too much into it. I try and stay as level as I can. Every game I go into it and try my best, and that's all you can do." United's current skipper Bruno Fernandes said the players at Old Trafford craved success after their struggles. The club are 16th in the Premier League with one game to go -- certain to finish in their lowest position since they were relegated in 1974. But winning the Europa League would guarantee a place in the Champions League next season. "We want to be at the top of everything, not only the Europa League, not only the Premier League," he said. "We want to be at the top of the FA Cup, the Carabao (League) Cup, everything we are involved in. "This club needs to be fighting for everything we have ahead of us." Fernandes, who is the joint top-scorer in the Europa League this season with seven goals, said a trophy win could be transformational for United. "It won't change the past, it won't affect what the past has done to us... but what can it affect is the future, probably yes. "Obviously winning the competition gives you a lot of things. You get a place in the Champions League, it gets a lot of revenue for the club, it gets obviously more players wanting to come to the club." AFP
