Gary Neville believes Manchester United would not merit a victory parade even if they triumph in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday.
United, under Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim, are set to face fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao. A win would secure United’s first European title since their 2017 Europa League success and earn them a place in next season’s Champions League despite a disappointing domestic campaign.
Victory celebrations for English clubs typically include an open-top bus parade through the city, with fans turning out in droves. However, Neville, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, dismissed the idea for this United side.
“If Manchester United win, they’ll rightly celebrate the trophy, but the tone will be more reserved,” said the former United and England defender. “The fans will celebrate wildly, of course, but the players will likely acknowledge how tough the season has been. I don’t think winning the Europa League justifies a parade through the city.”
Currently 16th in the Premier League table just two places above the relegation zone, United are enduring one of their worst top-flight campaigns since their relegation from the First Division in 1974. Tottenham sit just behind them in 17th place.
Amorim’s squad has managed only 10 wins in 37 league games, with 18 losses and no victories in their last eight Premier League outings. In contrast, their European form has been impressive, including a dramatic 7–6 aggregate win over Lyon in the quarter-finals and a commanding semi-final performance against Athletic Bilbao, earning them a return to the Spanish city for the final.
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