Manchester United set a new but unwanted record last night with their 1-0 Premier League loss to Chelsea.
With a crucial victory for Enzo Maresca’s team in the battle for Champions League football next season, Marc Cucurella’s header in the second half secured all three points for the home team at Stamford Bridge.
With their fate in their own hands, Chelsea travels to Nottingham Forest for their final home game. They know that a win at the City Ground will secure their spot in Europe’s top club competition for the 2025–2026 season.
Meanwhile, United’s setback in West London was their 18th Premier League loss of the season.
Harry Maguire’s goal appeared to have given the Red Devils the lead in the first half, but when it was referred to the VAR, it was chalked out for offside.
After losing yesterday night, United is currently in 16th place in the table and is on track for by far their worst finish in the Premier League’s history.
Amorim’s team will play Aston Villa at Old Trafford to wrap up their domestic campaign next weekend, but first they will face fellow Premier League underdogs Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao.
Interestingly, one of these two teams will not only win a trophy next Wednesday night, but also secure a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season because the Europa League winners have earned a spot in the competition. Ange Postecoglou’s team is now ranked 17th in the standings.
Speaking after the loss against Chelsea and looking ahead to the game in Bilbao, Amorim said: “We have to prepare for each competition but, with a five day gap, we can rest. We have five days to prepare [for the Europa League final] – two days to fully recover and then two days to prepare.
“In the end, I looked at all of the players and I think they are OK. Of course we are excited to be in the final. The pressure has been there since day one but I live with the pressure quite well. When we have a final in any cup we show up, so we are prepared for that.”
After Erik ten Hag, the Portuguese manager who left Sporting Lisbon to relocate to England, was fired by the Old Trafford club, Amorim took over as manager of United in mid-November.
Even though Amorim hasn’t been in control of United the entire season, the team will establish a new undesired record while he’s been in command, which emphasizes how awful the Old Trafford team’s campaign has been.
United will finish a Premier League season without winning consecutive games for the first time since the league’s inception in 1992 after failing to defeat Chelsea.
This has only happened twice in the club’s history, during the 1893–94 and 1921–22 seasons.
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