Several Manchester United players immediately removed their runners-up medals after their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Spurs ended their 17-year trophy drought on Wednesday night as Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal sealed a 1-0 victory for Ange Postecoglou’s side in Bilbao.
The result caps a miserable season for United, who sit 16th in the Premier League and will be without European football at Old Trafford next season.
United’s players were clearly dejected at the final whistle and their disappointment was clear during the post-match ceremony as they collected their medals from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Mason Mount, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Andre Onana, Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui were among the United players who removed their medals almost immediately after they were placed around their necks.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
However, captain Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and manager Ruben Amorim were among those who opted to keep wearing their medals while they watched Spurs’ celebrations.
Speaking after United’s defeat, Rio Ferdinand criticised his former club’s approach to the final against Tottenham.
‘A disaster of a season ending on a bad note, but I don’t think Man United did enough to deserve it,’ Ferdinand told TNT Sports.
‘There was no real cutting edge in the Man 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.’
Roy Keane also delivered a scathing analysis of United’s performance in Bilbao.
‘Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Man United. It’s been the story all year,’ Keane told CBS Sports.
‘They’ve been getting out of jail with European football and it’s been covering the huge cracks at Man United. All season they have been so easy to beat.
‘They got lucky a few times in Europe and then tonight again, ultimately it’s not good enough. They didn’t show enough quality. Not enough options off the bench.
‘If you’re depending on Harry Maguire to get you out of jail you’re in trouble.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Rio Ferdinand blames Ruben Amorim for not starting Man Utd star in Europa League final
MORE: Arsenal withdraw from transfer race with Chelsea to sign £54m attacker
MORE: Europa League final 2025 prize money: How much will Man Utd or Tottenham get as winners?
