Manchester United and Spurs could still create history by qualifying for the Champions League despite being historically abysmal in the Premier League.

Both clubs remain in the Europa League and are among the favourites to win a competition which guarantees the champions passage into the following season’s Champions League.

Manchester United host Real Sociedad in the second leg of a last-16 tie locked at 1-1, while Spurs must overcome a miserable 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar if they wish to progress to the quarter-finals.

Only goal difference separates the two teams in the Premier League table, with Spurs and Manchester United 13th and 14th respectively, four points behind Brentford and one ahead of Everton and West Ham.

That opens up the entirely plausible prospect of either side qualifying for European competition despite finishing in the bottom half domestically, which while uncommon is not unheard of; West Ham did it a couple of years ago.

Even Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa could just about feasibly win the tournament and qualify for the 2025/26 iteration as champions while experiencing a substantial drop-off in the Premier League; they are eighth but Bournemouth are a point behind and Fulham are three back with a game in hand.

The lowest-ranked teams to qualify for the following season’s Champions League were Chelsea in 2011/12 and Manchester United in 2016/17, who both finished sixth in the Premier League but found alternative paths by winning European competitions.

But teams have been relegated before while glancing at flight prices for their impending continental journey; a couple weren’t even in the top flight at all. The following sides have qualified for European competition in the Premier League era despite finishing 10th or lower.

READ MORE: How Premier League teams qualify for Champions League and Europa competitions for 25/26

Premier League clubs who finished 10th while qualifying for Europe
Arsenal – qualified for Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992/93 as FA Cup winners

Aston Villa – qualified for UEFA Cup in 1993/94 as League Cup winners

Blackburn – qualified for UEFA Cup in 2001/02 as League Cup winners

Blackburn – qualified for Intertoto Cup in 2006/07 as the highest-ranked team to apply

Premier League clubs who finished 11th while qualifying for Europe
Spurs – qualified for UEFA Cup in 1998/99 as League Cup winners

Newcastle – qualified for Intertoto Cup in 2000/01 after the Spanish FA withdrew participation

Middlesbrough – qualified for UEFA Cup in 2003/04 as League Cup winners

Spurs – qualified for UEFA Cup in 2007/08 as League Cup winners

Premier League clubs who finished 12th while qualifying for Europe
West Ham – qualified for Europa League in 2014/15 through the Fair Play League

Premier League clubs who finished 13th while qualifying for Europe
Newcastle – qualified for Cup Winners’ Cup in 1997/98 as FA Cup runners-up

Newcastle – qualified for UEFA Cup in 1998/99 as FA Cup runners-up

Fulham – qualified for Intertoto Cup in 2001/02 as the highest-ranked team to apply

Stoke – qualified for Europa League in 2010/11 as FA Cup runners-up

Premier League clubs who finished 14th while qualifying for Europe
Chelsea – qualified for Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993/94 as FA Cup runners-up

Newcastle – qualified for Intertoto Cup in 2004/05 as the highest-ranked team to apply

West Ham – qualified for Europa League in 2022/23 as Conference League winners

Premier League clubs who finished 15th while qualifying for Europe
Everton – qualified for Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994/95 as FA Cup winners

Premier League clubs who finished 16th while qualifying for Europe
Hull – qualified for Europa League in 2013/14 as FA Cup runners-up

Premier League clubs who finished 17th while qualifying for Europe
Bradford – qualified for Intertoto Cup in 1999/2000 after an Italian club pulled out of the competition

Premier League clubs who finished 18th while qualifying for Europe
Ipswich – qualified for UEFA Cup in 2001/02 through the Fair Play League

Birmingham – qualified for Europa League in 2010/11 as League Cup winners

Wigan – qualified for Europa League in 2012/13 as FA Cup winners

Premier League clubs who finished 20th while qualifying for Europe
Crystal Palace – qualified for Intertoto Cup as only team who applied in 1997/98

Clubs who qualified for Europe while playing in the Football League
Millwall – finished 10th in the second tier but qualified for UEFA Cup in 2003/04 as FA Cup runners-up

Wrexham – finished 13th in the third tier but qualified for Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994/95 as Welsh Cup winners

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Wayne Rooney says he would keep just two Manchester United players at the club as the Red Devils legend hit out at the “rubbish” culture.

Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag at the helm in November but the expected uplift in results and performances hasn’t come to pass.

United sit 14th in the Premier League having been dumped out of both cups, with the Europa League their only remaining chance of silverware this season, with glory in that competition also securing a place in the Champions League next season.

They take on Real Sociedad in the second leg of their last-16 clash on Thursday with the tie evenly poised at 1-1 and Amorim is well aware of the importance of getting through to the quarter-final.

Ahead of the clash at Old Trafford, Amorim said: “This game is also important to give us more energy to continue the season.

“It’s not going to change a lot in terms of the ideas for the next season, but it will give us more energy to finish the season in a different way. So it’s going to be a really important game for us.”

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But Rooney can’t see a way back for this United side, and named just two players he would keep while “10-15 players need to leave”.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Rooney said: “[On whether there is a way back for this Manchester United team] No, I don’t think so. They look lost. They look scared. Bruno [Fernandes] is the one who keeps producing, he annoys you at times but keeps producing. They need massive changes to the squad, I think 10-15 players need to leave the club. Obviously, they can’t do that, but there is a mentality there where no one is taking responsibility [in the squad].

“[On the players to keep] I’d keep Bruno and [Kobbie] Mainoo. There is a culture at the club where it’s too easy to lose games and the players come out and say, ‘Onto the next one,’ and all that rubbish. Just show some character and fight on the pitch. It’s bad watching, it hurts. Being from Liverpool but spending so many years at United, I want the team to do well, I’ve got my kids in the academy, and it hurts watching them.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s interview this week highlighted the financial woes that will prevent Amorim from making such sweeping changes to his squad, but winning the Europa League to grant entry into the Champions League next season would provide him with a significantly bigger pot of money to work with.

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Manchester United will do battle with Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday, with the sides locked level at 1-1 ahead of a date at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim’s side showed plenty of fighting spirit during a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the weekend, so hopes are high they can secure crucial progression to the next round.

It’s also a big week for the club off the pitch, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe announcing a pretty new circus that must align with the Glazers’ comical vision of how to run the club.

There are endless cracks to be made about clowns performing in the big top, but we’ll resist the urge because tap-ins aren’t for everyone. Rasmus.

Imanol Alguacil’s heavily-rotated side went down 1-0 at home to Sevilla, with their season’s success now hinging largely on this competition.

Their tricky press should be more visible in the second leg, particularly with the onus on United to get their foot on the ball and provide some build-up play.

The Red Devils have a chequered history playing Spanish opposition, as they’re currently on a seven-match unbeaten streak that follows a winless spell of nine matches.

Sociedad have also had their struggles against English opposition, but not when beating Man Utd 1-0 at Old Trafford in 2022.

Alguacil has navigated injury and high-profile departures year after year, most recently Mikel Merino and La Liga team of the season contender Robin Le Normand, to deliver European football.

Both sides’ European involvement next season hinges on this result so we’re expecting a real cracker.

Man Utd team news

Amorim has some big decisions to make but a small pool of players to pick from, even though United’s head honcho has confirmed Manuel Ugarte could feature.

Altay Bayindir, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, and Amad Diallo have been ruled out, while Harry Maguire is unlikely to feature.

Leny Yoro joined the walking wounded at the weekend and may be forced to miss this match, meaning a start for Ayden Heaven or a reshuffle involving Noussair Mazraoui.

The Moroccan has featured as part of the back three before and could partner Mathijs de Ligt and Victor Lindelof, flanked by Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu.

The midfield picks itself if Ugarte does indeed return, with Bruno Fernandes alongside him and surely Alejandro Garnacho continuing further forward.

There’s a choice to be made in attack but it feels like a critical juncture for Rasmus Hojlund’s confidence, so he gets the nod from us with Joshua Zirkzee in a supporting role.

Man Utd expected line-up

Onana – Dalot, de ligt, Lindelof, Mazraou, Dorgu – Fernandes, Ugarte – Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee

Real Sociedad team news

Imanol Alguacil’s mesmerising brand of front-foot football was rarely on display in San Sebastián last week, largely hampered by the absence of Martin Zubimendi.

Los Txuri-urdin’s main man is fit and firing so returns to his role as the midfield lynchpin at Old Trafford on Thursday.

The visitors employed a 4-3-3 in the first leg, but we think the 4-1-4-1 they deployed at the weekend is more probable, with Takefusa Kubo, Pablo Marin and Brais Mendez given licence to press.

Jon Pacheco and Luka Sucic are ruled out for the visitors, with breaking news suggesting Jon Aramburu faces a race against time. If he’s fit, he plays.

England’s slayer Mikel Oyarzabal was a thorn in United’s side last weekend and will be hoping to get on the scoresheet for the ninth time this campaign.

Real Sociedad expected line-up

Remiro – Aramburu, Elustondo, Zubeldia, Lopez – Zubimendi – Kubo, Marin, Mendez, Barrenetxea – Oyarzabal

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad: How to watch and listen

You can watch Man Utd host Real Sociedad live on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+. There’s also live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad stats:

Last Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Reale Arena ended the trend of the away side failing to score in this fixture. The trend of low-scoring fixtures continued, with six of seven meetings producing under 2.5 goals.

Man Utd have lost one and drawn six of their previous 28 Europa League matches at Old Trafford. Four of those setbacks came against Spanish opposition, including a 1-0 loss to Sociedad and a 0-0 draw with them.

Real Sociedad (21) are the third highest scorers in the competition. Their average of 1.9 goals per game has been matched by Man Utd.

They also boast two of the meanest defences in the Europa League, with United limiting opposition to 10.3xG and Sociedad to 10.4xG.

Ruben Amorim (Man Utd) quotes

On his relationship with Jim Ratcliffe:

“It’s really good since day one, I think we are really blunt and honest with each other, he’s a little bit of a character, we are quite similar.

“I always felt the support of the board and especially Sir Jim. I cannot tell you the conversations but they are simple conversations, clear conversations and honest conversations.”

Responding to criticism of himself and the players:

“I think if we are being honest in this moment, everybody, me, all the players, we are underperforming this season.

“So we can always change that and I include myself in that part of the underperforming.

“You are talking about players like Casemiro, for example, that won everything and we know these kind of players can play so much better.

That is the focus. He was honest on that, the focus is to change his mind and change all the people’s minds.”

On plans for next season:

“We have a clear plan to address next season. Of course, we have the Europa League also, and we can reach the Champions League. You never know. It can change plans. We have a plan and we know what to do. We know what kind of players we need to bring.”

Imanol Alguacil (Real Sociedad) quotes

On an evenly contested first leg:

“I’ll take a little bit of everything (from the game). We have to live every moment in these ties. Sometimes we have to suffer, and other times try to come up and be able to generate chances to win. It’s about competing at all times, even when they make us suffer.”

Heaping praise on Man Utd:

“They have a lot of power, they have a lot of potential. They are well assembled, they come together… They force you to do a lot.

“They deserve much more. They are one of the best teams in Europe. You have to be very precise and have a lot of speed. They are very competitive there and we were able to hold on and draw, which has a lot of value.”

On whether it’s possible to win at Old Trafford:

“We know that it is complicated and we have to know who we are playing against, but why not?”

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad referee stats:

United will be glad to see the back of first-leg referee Ivan Kruzliak. They’ve won neither of the games he’s officiated and conceded a penalty in both.

French referee Benoit Bastien has been far more hospitable to British teams, overseeing Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich, and their famous 3-1 win against RB Leipzig.

He also took charge of Liverpool’s 1-0 win away to Girona and Arsenal’s 2-0 win when hosting Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Frenchman has a penchant for giving penalties having pointed to the spot 12 times in 21 fixtures, including two in six in the Champions League.

Man Utd vs Real Sociedad prediction:

This has been an evenly contested fixture over the years and United are in no fit shape to be trusted to beat anyone.

However, the level of individual talent they have, as demonstrated when Bruno Fernandes converted a free-kick like it was a penalty against Arsenal at the weekend, does mean they’re always in games.

We won’t go as far as predicting them to lose, but there’s value in backing the visitors to compete.

Bruno was also influential in the first leg, though United’s good work was later cancelled out by Oyarzabal from the spot.

They remain the most likely players to test the keeper at Old Trafford, taking 2.79 and 1.68 shots per 90 minutes respectively.

Manchester United need a new striker because Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund are nowhere near good enough.

Not yet, anyway. They were both signed for the present and future, yet the former appears to be a lost cause. Time is on their side and we could yet see Hojlund justify his £72million transfer fee and Zirkzee his £36million price.

Ruben Amorim is expected to delve into the striker market this summer but he should forget about your Alexander Isaks and Benjamin Seskos of the world; Manchester United could do a lot worse than these eight players.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
The ultimate ‘You know what? Manchester United could do a lot worse than Player X’, Jean-Philippe Mateta has been on fire again for Crystal Palace this season and certainly knows where the back of the net is, which appears to be alien to the Red Devils’ strikers.

A true Modern Day Barclaysman, Mateta has scored eight goals in his last eight appearances, including a match-winning brace at Old Trafford, getting back to the form we loved in the second half of 2023/24 when he went on a run of 14 goals in Crystal Palace’s last 16 Premier League matches. Sure, he is a bit hot and cold, but Zirkzee and Hojlund are just cold.

Some believe Mateta’s downside is his age, but he is only 27 and he is 27 until he is 28, which is important to remember. The years 26-29 have always been regarded as a player’s prime years but in modern football, it is more like 27-33, with all the sports science and nutrition malarkey going on. There is a chance Mateta is only just getting started and around better more expensive players, we might see his game reach another level.

Mateta is not a joke option – he should be a deadly serious target for Manchester United. They have brought in two young strikers with no Premier League experience to no success so it is time to change it up and the big Frenchman is the best option out there. Palace’s demands should not be too unreasonable and Mateta will surely be open to the move, even if the Eagles are five points better off in the Premier League table.

Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion)
A strong second favourite to Mateta, with the former player and being 34 years old narratives adding something different. Erik ten Hag reportedly suggested signing Danny Welbeck last summer and ‘serious thought’ was given to lodging a bid, only for the ex-Red Devils youngster to brush off interest and stay at Brighton.

The 42-cap former England international is aging very gracefully after some pretty average yet productive years at Arsenal and Watford. He has enjoyed his best individual period at the Seagulls, joining from the Hornets on a free transfer in October 2020. Expectations were pretty low but Welbeck has been a fantastic servant and could be set for another crack at Old Trafford, 14 years after his surprise £16million transfer to the Gunners.

The sort of finishes, like the one we recently saw against Newcastle United in the FA Cup, are something we would be shocked to see from Zirkzee or Hojlund. Not only does Welbeck have a finer final product, but his experience makes him an asset out of possession and that know-how in the final third would win United more free-kicks and get those around the striker more involved.

Again, this is a very serious option for United. It remains to be seen if Welbeck is keen on a return to Manchester, though.

Liam Delap (Ipswich Town)
What better to get Manchester United back to the upper echelons of football than the signing of a young and hungry English striker with a point to prove to their city rivals?

Young Delap never got a fair crack of the whip at Manchester City, which is not surprising considering he was competing with the best goalscorer in world football, Erling Haaland. Not only that, but the Premier League champions are more keen on paying big money for players than developing and playing them regularly. You do have Phil Foden and Rico Lewis, but other than that, James McAtee is destined to leave and Oscar Bobb is having to compete with new signings every season.

City’s youth academy is one of the best in the world, yet the sole purpose seems to be for success at that level and then big profit, selling young stars like Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Cole Palmer. Buy-back clauses are usually inserted in their sales, but they are never executed. It is an insurance policy that was not applied to Palmer’s move to Chelsea, which will no doubt fill the club with infinite regret.

As for Delap, there is reportedly a £40million option to re-sign and they would not be silly to trigger it as extra depth up front, with an injury to Erling Haaland leaving Omar Marmoush – who Pep Guardiola prefers out wide – as the only senior No. 9 option. City will have to cross that bridge at the end of the season because Ipswich are going down and Delap is staying up.

With 10 goals in 27 Premier League matches this season, Premier League clubs will be circling and Man United would be foolish not to throw their hat in the Delap ring. Unfortunately for their fans, being foolish is something we strongly associate with this club.

READ MORE: Premier League signings of the season: Forest, Bournemouth duos make top 10; one ‘Big Six’ player

Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
There is no shame in being limited to pity minutes off the bench when your club’s starting striker is a goal machine like Christopher Wood.

Without Awoniyi, there would be no Nottingham Forest Champions League push; they would probably be struggling in the Championship having signed a ridiculous amount of players ahead of their first year back in the Premier League. The Nigerian international scored six huge goals in Forest’s last four matches in 2022/23 to keep them above the relegation zone.

Last season, Awoniyi was riddled with injuries, which allowed Wood to establish himself as the club’s first-choice striker. The ex-Liverpool youngster has only started twice in the Premier League this campaign and is yet to complete a full 90 minutes. His lack of playing time means two things: Forest are willing to get shot of him and the player is open to leaving.

Enter Manchester United. Awoniyi’s experience of scoring goals to keep clubs up could end up being priceless.

Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
Firstly, duh. Secondly, Manchester United might actually be beneath Wolverhampton Wanderers’ talisman. For the first time, it’s not about whether or not the Red Devils would be open to signing someone, but if the player would be open to joining that toxic work environment. At the end of the day, This Is Manchester United Football Club We’re Talking About, of course Matheus Cunha would join them in a heartbeat.

Cunha is probably the best player on this list but he is the least strikery out of the lot. His game is more than scoring goals, and he is pretty good at that.

The Brazilian agreed a new contract with Wolves earlier this year after transfer speculation in January but there is no chance he sees that deal through to its 2029 expiry; the end goal is a transfer away and it will probably come this summer. There is reportedly a £60million release clause in there and there is bound to be interest from a host of Premier League clubs.

Jonathan David (Lille)
It’s time to go continental and who better to start with than the player we have all heard of but never watched play?

Jonathan David’s contract expires at the end of the season, making him an incredible potential signing for any club in the world. He has scored 31 goals in 59 Canada caps, 11 in 21 Champions League matches and 85 in 169 in Ligue Un. It remains a mystery that he is still at Lille, with all due respect. There have been transfer links every single transfer window, starting with a potential £60million move in 2021 to a cut-price deal last summer, yet no club has taken a punt.

Now David is available on a free transfer, clubs will be lining up outside Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Even though Man United are a state, they will be hard to turn down if they make a move for the 25-year-old. Saying that, clubs like Barcelona and Arsenal could be there too.

READ MORE: Best Robert Lewandowski replacements with Barcelona ‘in love’ with £150m Arsenal target

Hamza Igamane (Rangers)
Rogue, we know. Going near any Rangers player would certainly be bold considering how pathetic they have been this season, domestically anyway.

Igamane’s form has been, to put it mildly, pretty terrible in recent weeks but if he can rediscover his November to January self, he will get the summer transfer he craves, and why not to Man United?

The 22-year-old Moroccan announced himself with a brace and assist in a sensational 4-1 Europa League victory at Nice, going on to score three in his next four before a run of seven goals and one assist in six Scottish Premiership matches.

Igamane is lacking confidence and that is to be expected. His manager was recently sacked, Rangers are 16 points behind Celtic and have failed to win either domestic cup. It is a miserable time at Ibrox and should Igamane buck up his ideas between now and the end of the season, he will likely push for a summer exit – and if he does, Rangers fans will be more than happy to see him go.

He does not fit the bill as a proven Premier League goalscorer like Mateta or Champions League/top-five league scorer like David, but Igamane would add something different to this Red Devils attack and should be considered if he regains his form.

Evann Guessand (Nice)
Transfermarkt values 23-year-old Ivory Coast and Nice striker Evann Guessand at a measly €20million (£16.8million), which is a very respectable figure for someone with 10 goals and seven assists in 25 Ligue Un matches this season.

Having not heard of Guessand fits perfectly into the discourse, so let’s give you a short biography.

Evann Ludovic Vidjannagni Guessand – fantastic start – actually came through the Nice academy and represented France – where he was born – at Under 16, 17, 18 and 19 level before making his senior debut for the Ivory Coast. After two years playing for Nice B, he spent a year on loan at Swiss side Lausanne-Sport and then at Nantes in the French top flight. His numbers were pretty rubbish until this season, when he has caught fire for Nice.

WhoScored tell us that Guessand likes to dribble, gets fouled often, likes to play short passes, is an indirect set-piece threat and his strengths include through balls, dribbling and defensive contribution. His weaknesses are holding on to the ball, passing and crossing. He is versatile as well, capable of playing through the middle and on either wing.

This one season of good form makes Guessand a wildcard. Seventeen goal contributions in 25 games in a top-five league should not be overlooked and considering we are talking about Manchester United, being the such a rogue shout, this singular season probably makes him the most realistic signing. If they don’t sign him now, they will try to for double the price after he stars for a Premier League rival.

Remember folks, it is important to remember not to show disdain at any of these suggestions; this Is Manchester United after all, and Manchester United are sh*t.

According to reports, Jadon Sancho ‘could be back’ at Manchester United as there is a ‘loophole’ in his loan agreement with Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The Red Devils invested around £73m to sign Sancho from Borussia Dortmund during the 2021 summer transfer window and he’s proved a massive flop at Old Trafford.

Sancho never came close to living up to his huge price tag as he looked a shell of the winger who took the Bundesliga by storm.

The England international slipped in the Man Utd pecking order last season as he had a fallout with former head coach Erik ten Hag.

The 24-year-old was subsequently sent back to Dortmund on loan during the 2024 winter transfer window before he joined Chelsea in the summer.

READ: Man Utd shamed five ranked on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s chances of ‘moving’ them on this summer…

Sancho enjoyed a strong start to this season but he’s declined in recent months and has been criticised by Blues supporters.

Man Utd negotiated a buy option on Sancho’s loan to ensure his move would be permanent as long as Chelsea finishes above 14th in the Premier League this season.

This is not in doubt as Chelsea are challenging for Champions League qualification with ten games of the 2024/25 Premier League season remaining.

However, a new report from The Daily Mail claims a ‘cost loophole’ could see Sancho return to Man Utd this summer.

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
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👉 Chelsea ‘launch bid’ to sign Man Utd star with ‘all the stops pulled out’ for ‘accelerated’ transfer
👉 Man Utd duo branded ‘downright useless’ as Premier League star tipped to replace them

Regarding two potential ‘issues’, the report explains.

‘Confidential has learned there is still a possibility that Sancho could end up back at Old Trafford this summer if Chelsea decide not to go through with the deal – although we can reveal it would cost what insiders say is ‘a significant penalty’ to pull out under the terms of their agreement with United.

‘Chelsea are believed to be looking at a number of wingers this summer, including exciting Real Betis talent Jesus Rodriguez.

‘Another issue could be Sancho’s contract with Chelsea. Players often agree terms with their new club before joining on loan with a view to a permanent move, but it’s understood the 24-year-old has yet to do so.’

This is a potential blow for Man Utd and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with Sancho named among five “not good enough” or “overpaid” stars.

Ratcliffe said: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.

“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.

“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer.”

He added: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”

Journalist Miguel Delaney insists that Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim “doesn’t want to be there” after a tricky start to life at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils are having a nightmare season with Amorim appointed as Erik ten Hag’s successor in November after a poor start to the campaign.

However, the Portuguese head coach has actually made things worse at Old Trafford with Man Utd currently 14th in the Premier League with ten games left of the season.

Amorim has won just five of his first 17 Premier League matches in charge of the Red Devils and Man Utd are at risk of having no European football next term unless they win the Europa League.

Despite his terrible start as Man Utd boss, Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe praised Amorim’s work in an interview on Monday.

Speaking to Gary Neville in an interview on The Overlap, Ratcliffe said: “I think Ruben has done an excellent job. I really like Ruben.

“I think in the circumstances… I mean he arrived mid-season, he didn’t have time to train his players in the way in which he wants to play, he inherited a squad which he’s had no influence on, and the squad isn’t necessarily designed for the way in which he plays football, and English isn’t his natural language, and he’s never played in the Premier League before, and he’s managing the biggest club in the world, and it’s a tough place, and he’s a young guy.

“If you take all of that into consideration, I think he’s done a remarkably good job.”

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
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And now journalist Delaney has urged Ratcliffe “to back” Amorim in the summer and claims that the Man Utd boss “doesn’t want to be there himself”.

Delaney said on Sky Sports Back Pages podcast: “He absolutely has to back Ruben Amorim, he has to give him the support. He talks about how he speaks to him on a regular basis and how Jason Wilcox, the technical director, speaks to him two or three times a day.

“That needs to happen. If they’re going to make this work at Manchester United and give him the support he needs, then that needs to happen.

“And I think it’s welcome, from Amorim’s point of view, that Jim Ratcliffe has said this, because questions were starting to be asked about his own future and also how much he was actually even enjoying the job.

“I mean, he seems to be somebody who has found it very much of a struggle. He’s talked very honestly and very openly, but at times it’s almost felt quite down and that he doesn’t want to be there himself.

“Hopefully this, in terms of his own future and what that might do in terms of his own confidence and ability to do the job, hopefully that will be the support he needs.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s nonsense about the Manchester United salary bill has inspired us to emphasise once again how much better their players and Ruben Amorim should be doing.

It turns out Man Utd have the most overpaid squad in the Premier League. Who’d have thought it?!

To determine this, we have taken the Premier League’s salary bill ranking and compared it to the actual table to calculate the discrepancy and rank the clubs from biggest underachievers to overachievers.

Manchester City, for example, have the biggest wage bill and are fifth in the league, meaning they are underperforming by four places.

Essentially, how overpaid/underpaid are each Premier League club? Figures come from Capology.

20) Man Utd (-11)
Premier League position: 14th
Salary ranking: 3rd (£171m)

The perfect outcome, all things considered.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes Ruben Amorim is doing an “excellent job” considering the players he does not have at his disposal. Using current Chelsea and Aston Villa loanees Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, on top of injury-prone duo Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, as an excuse to reduce what he deems as an “available” salary bill simply does not fly.

Ratcliffe’s caveated salary bill of “probably about £130million” is still more than Liverpool’s actual salary bill – even if the United co-owner wants you to believe it’s £200million – and they are top of the Premier League by 15 points. He also argued that injuries and loans mean Amorim is playing with a squad on the same level as Nottingham Forest and Everton, which is quite spectacularly wrong.

It’s all just a load of guff and we are more than happy to call Ratcliffe out on it. If their salary was in fact £130m, Man United would have the fourth highest wage bill, not third, which would still have them bottom here but a vastly improved 10 spots worse off than 11. Bravo.

READ MORE: Ranking Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 17 Man Utd f***-ups: 3) Ruben Amorim, 4) Dan Ashworth, 8) Kath Phipps

19) West Ham (-8)
Premier League position: 16th
Salary ranking: 8th (£90m)

The Hammers had an expensive summer, signing Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville, Max Kilman and seven others to considerably increase their wage bill. The departures of Thilo Kehrer, Said Benrahma and Angelo Ogbonna will have helped but not significantly.

Expectations were obviously high going into 2024/25, with several exciting new signings and the appointment of a new manager, but West Ham have been bitterly disappointing, sacking Julen Lopetegui and replacing him with Graham Potter when 14th in the Premier League. So…they are doing worse? With that wage bill? It’s time to start a narrative.

=17) Tottenham Hotspur (-6)
Premier League position: 13th
Salary ranking: 7th (£112m)

A ‘Big Six’ club should probably be in the top six for total player salaries, but that is not the case with Spurs; they are below Aston Villa, who are a Champions League outfit to be fair.

Being one place out of the top six in the actual table is hardly the end of the world but being seven places below is pretty catastrophically horrendous and questions must be asked. With Spurs’ highest earners coming back from injury, Ange Postecoglou is under pressure.

=17) Leicester City (-6)

Premier League position: 19th
Salary ranking: 13th (£66m)

Given the lack of quality throughout Ruud van Nistelrooy’s squad, it is pretty surprising to see Leicester have a higher wage bill than seven other Premier League clubs.

A lot of their budget is paid on attacking players and given Jamie Vardy has been there through thick and thin, we imagine the 37-year-old is on a fair whack. Capology says it is £140,000 per week. And Odsonne Edouard and Harry Winks apparently take home £90k a week! Gulp.

16) Everton (-5)
Premier League position: 15th
Salary ranking: 10th (£72m)

With five players earning £100k per week, Everton are underperforming according to their wage bill, yet looking at their squad and the performances under Sean Dyche, you can’t help but feel David Moyes is actually doing very bloody well with what he has got.

15) Man City (-4)
Premier League position: 5th
Salary ranking: 1st (£223m)

Being sixth in the five-year Premier League net spend table is very impressive given Man City’s success in that time but falling so dramatically to fifth and scrambling for a Champions League spot is baffling and very much not good.

Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne’s yearly salaries alone would rank higher than the bottom two clubs, Brentford and Ipswich Town.

=12) Aston Villa (-2)
Premier League position: 8th
Salary ranking: 6th (£124m)

Villa are in the Champions League so their high salary and mid-table Premier League season is no surprise.

=12) Southampton (-2)
Premier League position: 20th
Salary ranking: 18th (£48m)

These guys can’t get anything right!

=12) Wolves (-2)
Premier League position: 17th
Salary ranking: 15th (£57m)

Nobody at Wolves earns six figures a week and the only player who deserves to be anywhere near that is Matheus Cunha.

=10) Arsenal (0)
Premier League position: 2nd
Salary ranking: 2nd (£179m)

These guys are doing just as you’d expect, which is absolutely fine. No underachievement confirmed. Mikel Arteta in. ‘Win’ the dog in. Vic Akers out.

=10) Chelsea (0)
Premier League position: 4th
Salary ranking: 4th (£162m)

Chelsea’s colossal spending in the transfer market does not equate to an over-inflated wage bill, with a lot of players’ contracts including performance-based bonuses.

Eight players earn more than Cole Palmer, who is comfortably their best and most important player.

=8) Fulham (+1)
Premier League position: 10th
Salary ranking: 11th (£71m)

Could Fulham be any more mid-table? Well, they could be 10th for salary, come to think of it.

=8) Crystal Palace (+1)
Premier League position: 11th
Salary ranking: 12th (£68m)

Lovely stuff from Oliver Glasner.

7) Ipswich Town (+2)
Premier League position: 18th
Salary ranking: 20th (£40m)

Ipswich are fighting above their weight in every sense.

6) Newcastle United (+3)
Premier League position: 6th
Salary ranking: 9th (£93m)

Newcastle have the richest owners in football but their spending has been restricted by those pesky PSR rules. The biggest positive to come out of that is undoubtedly breaking into the top six here. In your face, Red Cartel.

5) Liverpool (+4)
Premier League position: 1st
Salary ranking: 5th (£129m)

So, Liverpool are going to win the league in Arne Slot’s first season with a wage bill lower than Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. Should they extend Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s contracts, the Reds will probably still be fifth and with that in mind, they should probably just give in to Salah’s demands.

READ MORE: The outrageous statistics of Mohamed Salah: Most goal involvements in Premier League season

=3) Brighton (+7)
Premier League position: 7th
Salary ranking: 14th (£60m)

So Brighton, this. Always making those big licks look bad.

=3) Brentford (+7)
Premier League position: 12th
Salary ranking: 19th (£42m)

Would you believe us if we told you Aaron Hickey is Brentford’s highest earner? Bryan Mbeumo is apparently sixth, Mikkel Damsgaard ninth and Yoane Wissa 17th. They are so good, guys. So, so good.

2) Bournemouth (+8)
Premier League position: 9th
Salary ranking: 17th (£51m)

Just when we thought there were no new reasons to praise Andoni Iraola, Sir Jim Ratcliffe opens his mouth and we do some maths.

1) Nottingham Forest (+13)
Premier League position: 3rd
Salary ranking: 16th (£55m)

Being third in the Premier League, Forest were always going to be in the top five at the very least here. Yet, 16th in the salary rankings is pretty surprising considering the club’s hectic transfer activity since returning to the top flight in 2022.

Nuno Espirito Santo knows his strongest XI and his squad has been significantly trimmed down, so much so that no team has used fewer players in the 2024/25 Premier League (23).

We can’t rule out Ratcliffe simply lying to Gary Neville or being disastrously wrong, but his claim that the depleted Manchester United squad are “sort of level with the likes of a Nottingham Forest or Everton” is embarrassing.

MAILBOX: Neville ‘failed’ to push ‘arrogant’ and ‘completely out of touch’ Ratcliffe as he used ‘Trump playbook’