Manchester United must draw a line in the sand this summer

Manchester United’s dismal 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final was another disappointment in a season packed with underwhelming moments.

A club that was once the darling of sports bettors worldwide has become a shadow of its former self. The regression since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired has been painfully brutal.

Punters who think they are a good bet to bounce back next season may be better served checking out live casino games for mobile devices rather risking their money on United.

In some respects, failing to win the Europa League is a blessing in disguise. Securing Champions League qualification would have allowed the club to peddle a different narrative.

With participation in Europe now off the table, the people in charge of United have nowhere to hide. It would be foolish to think things cannot get any worse, but they can’t allow it to happen.

A line must be drawn in the sand this summer. Dwelling on previous failures will not resolve anything. United must reset and the changes need to be sweeping.

While a strong case can be made for saying manager Ruben Amorim should be the first to leave, parting company with him makes little sense at this stage.

The former Sporting CP boss inherited a squad that is not fit for purpose, so the fact he has not been able to get a tune out of them should surprise no one.

Further down the line, it may ultimately transpire that guiding them to the Europa League final was actually an achievement. Only time will tell on that one.

Given the manner of the job he did at Sporting, the 40-year-old must be given the opportunity to mould the squad to his own taste.

Numerous players have been tipped to leave the club this summer and most of them won’t be missed. If Amorim decided to get rid of the entire squad, nobody could quibble.

However, expecting that level of turnover in players is unrealistic. Amorim will need to retain a core of the current squad and build from there.

In the aftermath of the defeat in Bilbao, there was talk that United’s hopes of signing some of their summer transfer targets may have been damaged.

While that may be the case with some of them, it is important to note one crucial element – playing for United is still alluring for many professional footballers.

For example, Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap has been linked with the club. Some pundits have suggested he should join Everton, which wouldn’t be a bad move considering they have new owners.

However, for all their faults at the moment, United are still a bigger draw than Everton. If Amorim thinks Delap is the right man for the job, signing him should be a breeze.

The same goes for Matheus Cunha. He has done well with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but reportedly has his heart set on joining United. If that’s the case, just make it happen.

Amorim has numerous issues he needs to address in the squad this summer. If that means sacrificing a fan favourite or two, so be it.

The United boss must also be given the freedom to integrate some of the club’s promising crop of younger players into the first-team squad.

Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven immediately leap off the page as future stars, but there are several others who must be given the chance to shine next season.

In some respects, United have landed back in the early 1990s. Ferguson’s decision to promote the famed Class of ’92 was one of several brave decisions he made at the time.

Similar bravery is needed this summer. Amorim cannot change what has happened over the last decade or so at United, but he can significantly influence future events.