Europa League

FANS couldn’t quite believe who Sir Alex Ferguson was sat next to as he watched the Europa League final from the stands in Bilbao.Ferguson, 83, showed his support for the club he managed for 26 years a Manchester United took on Tottenham in the all-English European bout – but was left bitterly disappointed by a 1-0 defeat.Fans couldn’t believe that Sir Alex Ferguson was sat next to Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the Europa League finalCredit: PAFerguson and Ratcliffe were next to Avram Glazer tooCredit: GettySpurs chief Daniel Levy and Uefa boss Aleksander Ceferin sat on the same row tooCredit: TNT SportsMAN UTD VS TOTTENHAM – EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL LIVELatest betting odds, offers and predictions The legendary manager was attending his final away game as a paid ambassador for United, following the announcement he was being axed from his lucrative role in October.That brutal axing was part of cost-cutting measures implemented by Sir Jim Ratcliffe – which made fans even more confused when they saw Ferguson sat next to the club’s minority owner at the game. On social media, one wrote: “So the Glazers and Ratcliffe took away free tickets and sacked Fergie, now he’s sat next to them at the final?”While another added: “Why is Fergie sitting next to Sir Jim and the Glazers?”READ MORE ON MAN UTDA third commented: “Glazers, Ratcliffe and Sir Alex Ferguson in one frame.”And a fourth posted: “This makes me sick to my stomach”.Sir Jim Ratcliffe axed Ferguson from his paid role at Man Utd in OctoberCredit: GettyJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordFans were just as upset that Ferguson was so close to the Avram Glazer, whose family remains majority owners of the club despite Ratcliffe’s control of footballing matters.It was Ratcliffe’s brutal cost-cutting measures that saw Ferguson’s paid role axed back in October.Most read in FootballMan Utd & Spurs supporters party all day in Bilbao’s fan zones ahead of Europa League finalThe legendary Scottish manager had to wave goodbye to a £2.16m-per-year salary as a result, with the decision kicking in at the end of the current season.Which means his attendance at the Europa League final tonight is his last away game as a club ambassador on the payroll.Sir Alex had certainly been enjoying his trip to the Basque Country, stopping by Bilbao’s San Mames stadium before the match to visit Athletic Club officials.He even took the time to sign a match ball and pennant in the hallways of the ground from Athletic’s 2011/12 victory over United in the Europa League round of 16.But that enjoyment ended as he watched United’s dismal season end in a defeat at the hands of Spurs.Brennan Johnson scored Tottenham’s only shot on target and ended Spurs’ 17-year wait for a trophy to defeat United 1-0.Ferguson seems he has put any bad blood from his axing in the past as he chatted away to Ratcliffe in the stands.Ferguson wasn’t the only victim of Ratcliffe and Ineos’ brutal cost-cutting measures. The billionaire Brit and his company cut costs by announcing nearly 500 redundancies at the Premier League giants.Other more marginal financial savings have been made by scrapping free meals for Old Trafford staff, cancelling the staff Christmas party and stopping access to private chauffeurs and company credit cards.While the United execs also decided against offering their employees free tickets to the Europa League final – instead hosting a watching party back in the UK.Despite the mass cost-cutting, United announced in March plans to build a brand new £2billion 100,000-seat stadium in the near future.Read More on The SunAll this has coincided with United’s worst ever season on the pitch, with manager Ruben Amorim now handed a lifeline to save the club’s season with a European trophy and place in the Champions League as they languish in 16th in the Premier League table.A win over Spurs would mean a major trophy and a huge financial boost thanks to securing a return to Europe’s elite competition.Ferguson visited the San Mames stadium before the match tooCredit: TwitterMan Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash More

SIR ALEX FERGUSON arrived at the San Mames stadium ahead of the Europa League final – marking his final away day as Manchester United’s global ambassadorFerguson, 83, showed his support for Man Utd ahead of their European heavyweight bout with Tottenham in Bilbao – but was left bitterly disappointed by a 1-0 defeat.Sir Alex Ferguson attended the Europa League final for his last away game as a paid club ambassadorCredit: GettyMAN UTD VS TOTTENHAM – EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL LIVELatest betting odds, offers and predictions Sir Alex, who managed United for 26 years, has been kept on the books at Old Trafford as an ambassador since his exit as boss in 2013.But as part of new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal cost-cutting measures, Ferguson’s paid role was axed back in October.The legendary Scottish manager had to wave goodbye to a £2.16m-per-year salary as a result, with the decision kicking in at the end of the current season.Which means his attendance at the Europa League final on Wednesday night was his last away game as a club ambassador on the payroll.READ MORE ON MAN UTDSir Alex had certainly been enjoying his trip to the Basque Country, stopping by Bilbao’s San Mames stadium before the match to visit Athletic Club officials.He even took the time to sign a match ball and pennant in the hallways of the ground from Athletic’s 2011/12 victory over United in the Europa League round of 16.Ferguson led United to 13 league titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups and four League Cups.But he can rest assured that his ambassadorial axing wasn’t personal, but instead part of a slew of cost-cutting measures put in place by Ratcliffe and his Ineos team.Most read in FootballFerguson visited the San Mames stadium before the match tooCredit: TwitterSir Jim Ratcliffe axed Ferguson from his paid role at Man Utd in OctoberCredit: GettyJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordThe billionaire Brit and his company cut costs by announcing nearly 500 redundancies at the Premier League giants.While other more marginal financial savings have been made by scrapping free meals for Old Trafford staff, cancelling the staff Christmas party and stopping access to private chauffeurs and company credit cards.’He was evil’ – Sir Alex Ferguson would be in JAIL if he managed today, claims Man Utd legend Patrice Evra Should take around 15 seconds if we want to include it-United had the opportunity boost their dire financial situation with a victory over Spurs in Bilbao, a win that wouldn’t have just earned them a major trophy, but also a place in the Champions League.A place amongst Europe’s elite would have helped line the pockets of the Manchester club, who have been struggling financially since their drop in form over the past few years.But that dream was snatched away from them as Brennan Johnson scored Tottenham’s only shot on target and ended Spurs’ 17-year wait for a trophy to defeat United 1-0.Despite the mass cost-cutting, United announced in March plans to build a brand new £2billion 100,000-seat stadium in the near future.Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash More

SHEEPISH Paul Scholes warned Manchester United not to underestimate Spurs as he branded Sir Alex Ferguson’s “It’s Tottenham” speech “derogatory.”The Red Devils are hoping to get the better of their Premier League rivals in tonight’s Europa League final.Paul Scholes had his say over Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘it’s Tottenham’ speechScholes branded Fergie’s comments ‘derogatory’ ahead of the Europa League finalCredit: GettyBoth sides have struggled domestically, with United 16th in the table and Spurs 17th.Victory will seal a place in next season’s Champions League, with the loser facing a long and unhappy summer.Spurs are feeling confident after winning all three of their previous meetings this term.While United have been clinging to hope thanks to a famous speech given by Sir Alex against Spurs in 2001.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Red Devils were three goals down at half-time but came back to win 5-3, with Fergie telling his players: “Lads, it’s Tottenham.”But Scholes, who featured in that famous match, believes in hindsight that it was “derogatory” to dismiss Spurs that way.And he certainly feels the same attitude cannot be held by United this evening.Scholes told TNT Sports: “I think it’s a bit derogatory to speak about such a great football club like that.Most read in Europa LeagueBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS“We knew that most of the time we had the beating of Tottenham. We were always confident against them.“I know there’s a lot said of, ‘It’s only Tottenham’ and that should be enough to win a game. But it isn’t. You’re playing against a very good team of footballers. Man Utd & Spurs supporters party all day in Bilbao’s fan zones ahead of Europa League finalMAN UTD VS TOTTENHAM – EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL LIVELatest betting odds, offers and predictions “They’ve had the upper hand against United, we’ve lost the last three. It’s not quite ‘just Tottenham’ any more.”Fans were quick to react, with one saying: “He doesn’t believe himself.”Another declared: “Paul Scholes is pure class, a wizard of a player but so humble.“Knows his stuff too, not airs and graces, never fake, one of the real ones.” More