Europa League final: Manchester United have more than a title on the line

Manchester United will play Ajax in the Europa League final on Wednesday, May 24. But they will be playing for more than a title.

It is reported by Tom Sunderland of Bleacher Report that Manchester United have £38 million in player wages hinging on winning the final. This comes from a clause in the players’ contracts that will forfeit 25 percent of their earnings if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. As it stands, winning the Europa League is the only way the Red Devils can make it in.

Manchester United sit sixth in the Premier League and have no chance of making the top four after losing to Tottenham on Sunday. It is expected that a team of their caliber should be competing in the Champions League every season. With the likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the side, they probably should have done better this season.

Regardless of the talent on their roster, the Champions League is a huge revenue source for the club. After missing the competition in three of the last four seasons, the club are desperate to reestablish their place. Hence the cuts to pay for failure to gain entry into the coveted tournament.

Only players that are making more than £20,000 in weekly wages are eligible for this pay cut. As is the standard for clubs like United, that includes almost all of the first team players. However, as Matt Hughes of The Times reports, it is only applicable to players that finished under Louis van Gaal last season. This means that recent signings Pogba and Ibrahimovic aren’t susceptible to the punishment for not qualifying.

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As if simply winning the Europa League wasn’t enough for United, they now have extra motivation to defeat Ajax. Winning the title, qualifying for the Champions League and earning money are all on the line, but will United prevail?