Manchester United

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We asked for your initial thoughts after Manchester United were defeated by Tottenham in the Europa League final.

Here are some of your comments:

Kevin: I've been a Manchester United fan for over 50 years and the most disappointing part of this evening and probably the majority of the season is the lack of passion, desire and basic effort that has been forthcoming. Anyone honoured with wearing the United shirt should never need motivation to give 100% effort EVERY time it is put on. The manager is there to organise and add structure, but the players should without fail turn up every game. It's not the losing, it's the manner in which they lose.

Royston: Sums up United's season. Can't score goals, lack cohesion and over-reliance on Bruno. Despite dominating possession, in the end it was down to an unfortunate deflection that lost them the game. Spurs barely had a shot on target but won it, only for United players now to lick their wounds. Hoping this be a catalyst to a strong rebound into next season, provided that there's enough finances to recruit well, while no European football on offer.

Pete: Terrible. Substitutions were too late make a difference. Nobody has the confidence to put an early ball into the box. Fernandes was poor, Onana wasn't even looking at the ball when it went in. Major clear-out needed - cut the dead wood and start again.

Andy: Didn't turn up. Was just like West Ham and Chelsea games. We showed no ideas on how to win, we go back when we must go forward. Goals come from shots but we create no opportunities for shots, so no goals likely. Subs too late. Mount started but didn't cut it.

John: Disgusting. A team which hasn't done anything all season comes to a final in a competition they have prioritised now for a couple of months and gives the fans that. No urgency and no want from any players, horrible to watch and don't know where they will be next season.

Scott: I'm afraid Amorim has to go, his formation and tactics have taken United backwards from an already bad position. We can't break through opposition lines and don't look capable of winning any game, far less a European final. I have a real fear for what next season holds under Amorim. Learn from last season and act now.

Keep across this page for more fan reaction on Thursday

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Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, speaking to TNT Sports: "A disaster of a season ending on a bad note, and I don't think United did enough to deserve it.

"There was no real cutting edge in the United team. All that sustained pressure, the goalkeeper [Guglielmo Vicario] made one save in the whole game - you can't expect to win a trophy when you're a bit reserved.

"Ruben Amorim's way of playing compared to the past regime is very different.

"In terms of what he wants them to do - I think he needs more time, he hasn't had a pre-season.

"He needs a recruitment window to then have real judgement."

Former England and Tottenham midfielder Glenn Hoddle added: "Ruben Amorim will be under pressure if he doesn't start well next year.

"They have never played three at the back - he needs to look at himself in the summer and think: 'In the Premier League, can I make this work?

"Tonight they ran out of ideas again."

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking in his post-match news conference after his side's Europa League final defeat: "I only have to share the pain of our fans, they deserve better. We tried everything. About the future, we will see what we are going to do."

On impact of no Champions League football: "We have two plans, even for the market. We have to understand that it is tough for a club like us not to be in the Champions League but now we have to do the other side. If we have more time, we have more time to think and work during the week and to be better in the Premier League. This will be our focus."

On the future: "I was always really honest with you guys. We did not perform well today but we were better than the opponent. In the second half we tried everything with the central defenders players wide, crosses going inside the box.

"I think today was not the day. We were not perfect, we have a lot to improve but I am always honest with you guys."

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Former Manchester United youngster Febian Brandy, speaking to BBC Radio Manchester after the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham:

"In my opinion, Spurs just wanted it a little bit more.

"In the final third Manchester United just didn't have anything. We said at half-time they needed to be more creative in the final third because they were getting in good positions but were not trusting the goalkeeper and creating chances.

"They didn't really create anything in the second half and Spurs defended very well and were organised. United could have moved the ball much quicker and as a footballer if you're taking three touches [more] than you could do on the ball it allows your opposition to get back into their defensive position.

"United moved the ball very slowly and allowed Spurs to get into shape. If that is happening you have to do something different or change the approach and United just couldn't do that.

"I thought Ruben Amorim would make substitutions in the first 10-15 minutes in the second half. You could see how dangerous Alejandro Garnacho was when he came on. If that substitution had been done 15 minutes earlier who knows what could have happened? There could have been chances created.

"It's a very bad season for Manchester United. You can't solely blame the manager. On the pitch tonight there wasn't enough fight. It was flat and, given what was at stake, I just expected more. I wanted to see more hunger and more desire. How long can we talk about transitions and trajectories?"

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Bilbao

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The seven minutes of injury time signalled in Bilbao brought hope for Manchester United that they could save themselves in a European final, just as they did so famously back in 1999.

But those days are long gone.

Even more recent heroes in the form of Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, both present in Bilbao this week, can only lament what their old club has become.

Where there used to be invention and danger, now there is just poor decision making. It starts at the top of the club but was evident on the field deep in stoppage time when, with Bruno Fernandes on one side and Amad Diallo on the other, Leny Yoro decided he was the best option to shoot from 25 yards. It was off target.

Rasmus Hojlund scooped a header over the bar. Amad was dangerous and in the dying embers of injury time, Vicario turned away a decent header from substitute Joshua Zirkzee.

But there was no great belief. Alejandro Garnacho hooked the last chance into the side-netting.

United will have no European football next season for only the second time since English clubs were readmitted by Uefa in 1990. They will play in the Carabao Cup in August.

Manchester United have been beaten 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao.

Brennan Johnson's first-half goal was the difference between the two sides.

Have your say on United's loss here

Tottenham Hotspur are bidding for a fourth straight victory over Manchester United this season when they meet in the Europa League final. But does that record count for anything in a one-off game?

Former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown believes it does but tells The Football News Show why United's record in big games counts in their favour too.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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The biggest issues for Ruben Amorim tonight centre around three areas in defence, midfield and attack.

That sounds big but it is specifics. Noussair Mazraoui will start, the question is where?

If Diogo Dalot is fit it will be in the back three. If not, it will be as wing-back, with two of Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw named alongside Harry Maguire.

In midfield, does skipper Bruno Fernandes partner Casemiro or does Manuel Ugarte get the job, with Fernandes more advanced?

If Fernandes is deeper, has Mason Mount got a chance of keeping out Amad Diallo or Alejandro Garnacho?

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Manchester United legends Denis Irwin, Andrew Cole and Peter Schmeichel have been speaking to the BBC about Wednesday's Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Former Republic of Ireland full-back Irwin told BBC Radio Manchester: "The result won't cloud the fact it's been a poor season for us domestically, but we've got an opportunity to not just win a cup but get into the Champions League, and actually go into next season on a huge high on the back of this."

Ex-England striker Cole said: "People need to understand to play for a club like Manchester United, you've got to be a special individual. You're going to have ups and downs, you're not going to win every game, but you've got to understand what it means to these fans.

"They would give their right arm to play for Manchester United, so you wear the shirt with pride and give everything you've got."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel added: "They find themselves in this game with a chance to win a trophy and make the season look good, but it's also access to the Champions League.

"In Ruben Amorim's words, a win will change the summer but it won't solve the problems - but it would be a lot easier to sign better players. For Manchester United, there's so much at stake.

"I just can't call it, I honestly don't know. I'd say it's a 50-50 game, you could make an argument for either side."

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Manchester United need this trophy win to ensure they have financial stability going into the summer.

They have a lot of big plans. They want to sign a lot of players, including attacking players which are expensive to obtain.

Getting into the Champions League next season would certainly help that, and give them that financial firepower to go and execute the deals that they want to execute.

The club are also in the process of a redundancy scheme. It is a shame because people are losing their jobs - and no one at Manchester United wants that to happen.

To have this financial boost, an estimated £100m if they qualify for the Champions League, would be significant for them.

In terms of Tottenham, we all know about their trophy drought - 2008 was the last time they lifted a trophy. They want this so badly. The fans want this so badly.

The major issue is Ange Postecoglou's future. Whether Wednesday's outcome has any baring on his future remains to be seen. I think the direction of travel is that he will probably leave the club, regardless of the result.

The euphoria of victory could change things - but that's the jeopardy we have got here.

If Postecoglou does leave Tottenham this summer with that European trophy in his belt, that would help him get another top job in European football.

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The previous head-to-heads between Manchester United and Tottenham no longer matter.

Maybe, Spurs can take some confidence in the previous results but they have not played them in a cup final before.

There is a trophy on the line this time so all of the previous history is neutralised and it becomes a one-off, showpiece, game.

Both teams in the Premier League have struggled to manage games but in Europe it has been slightly different. We will see two domestic sides meet in a European setting, but what we can expect from that, I am not actually too sure.

Neither side are in a position where you can see them controlling the game for long periods of time, so that may lead to some nervousness around making a mistake which could cost them the game.

I expect it to be quite a tight game and come down to who can have the big moments and take them.

We saw it at the weekend in the FA Cup final, Crystal Palace had that moment and Eberechi Eze took it, and then they made good blocks and had a penalty saved.

That is probably what this Europa League final is going to come down to.

You could talk yourself into backing either Tottenham or Manchester United but neither team have impressed enough for you to fully commit to knowing they will do well.

It will come down to those gritty moments and taking those chances when you get them.

This is not just an average game, it is a final and a defining moment in the season. It is not about style and formation. This is simply about winning.

You don't remember how someone played in the final but you do remember who lifted the trophy.

And given how this season has gone for both sides, it literally is make or break.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Tottenham Hotspur will be without James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski for the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show why their absence will be so keenly felt and why United captain Bruno Fernandes holds the key to the midfield battle in Bilbao.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

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Captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Harry Maguire are the "most important" players in the Manchester United team, says former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.

Both players will be hoping they can help lead the side to Europa League glory on Wednesday night when they face Tottenham in Bilbao.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Schmeichel said: "You have got Harry Maguire and you have got Bruno Fernandes, and they are the two leaders of that team.

"Bruno is probably the one player who can take some personal pride from his performance this year. He has been trying his very, very best. It has been really difficult for him, his brain works on a different frequency than most other players and he has not had a lot of players who have been on that wavelength with him.

"He gets criticised for some of his body language and the way he reacts on the pitch, but for me it just shows you that he really, really cares. For a Manchester United fan and former player, that really means something. It is not just somebody sat there going through the motions, earning a wage and just being happy playing for Manchester United, he truly cares.

"He wants to win and I'm so happy he is there because he is someone you can start building the new Manchester United around. The same goes for Harry. He has earned a new contract. Only a year ago he was told by the coach he was number five in line, but he has always been for me the absolute best defender in that squad.

"He might not be the prettiest player on the planet, but he is clever, he defends, he does it in style. As a goalkeeper behind, you don't have to worry about him. He has always been a leader and those two players are the most important in that team."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Manchester United fans have officially taken over the streets of Bilbao before Wednesday's Europa League final against Tottenham at San Mames Stadium.

The sun is shining, the supporters are gathering and the anticipation is building.

We know plenty of you have had to get a bit inventive with your travel to the Spanish city - whether that be a 33-hour ferry, a 13-hour coach ride, flying via Dublin, Paris and Rome, or driving the whole distance - but it looks like most of you have reached your final destination now.

So let's have a look at the current scenes in Bilbao...

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Have you spotted yourself in any of these pictures? If so, let us know.

If you have any pictures from sunny Bilbao or you would like to share any stories from your trip, send in your messages and pictures here.

Follow all the build-up and vote on who will win on our live page