When Manchester United walk out on to the lush green turf of the Friends Arena in Stockholm Tonight, Jose Mourinho and his little Red Devils will be playing for more than just the honor of lifting another silverware.
There’ll be financial implications for the club should they stumble in Stockholm.
In 2016 United posted an 18% debt increase amounting to £338million. Overall though, their books have shown no unhealthy trends but it is the implication of poor results on the pitch that threatens the club’s Aura and Purse.
#MUFC take in the Friends Arena ahead of tomorrow’s #UELfinal. pic.twitter.com/PnSE4PVCC8
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 23, 2017
Hence the long term, and not necessarily the short is the cause for concern.
In 2014, Sports Kit giant Adidas penned a £750million 10-year deal with Manchester United.
The club’s yearly earnings from the deal is put at £75m, making it the single biggest kit deal in club football; eclipsing Real Madrid’s £31m-a-year-deal with the same kit makers.
United run the risk of losing out on that yearly bounty next season if they fail to qualify for the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League; in figures it’s a 30 per cent reduction in their £750m record-breaking kit deal.
Having failed to make the top four in the English Premier League this term, Mourinho’s side will play their hearts out for a win against an Ajax side, who have already booked a place at next season’s UCL and will be fighting for honor.
Back-to-back failures to qualify for the Champions League in 2015 and 2016 cost the Premier League club an estimated £150million per Mike Keegan [Mail Online].
Last season, United missed out on more than £50m thanks to loss of gate revenue and competition money, and although they won the FA Cup it did little to inspire confidence and so it was “off with the head” of Dutch Manager, Louis Van Gaal.
For two seasons without UCL football, the club has not benefited from UEFA’s €12.7m qualification money for the elite club competition – which is the purse for champions League appearance before the earnings on wins and progress to the group stage.
The multiple hits in 2018 will be immense such that the club may even face a complete overhaul of key administrative positions.
Since the failed project with David Moyes, Manchester United’s aura as a footballing force in England, Europe and even the world has been on a free fall.
Louis Van Gaal did little to halt it and Mourinho is generally perceived as the savior – for however long he manages to steady the boat. He himself has also promised the fans ‘those dark days will be over.’
The past three years has displayed nothing but a grim outlook, but the future itself doesn’t offer much hope neither, unless the result Tonight favors the Red Devils.
Since the failed project with David Moyes, Manchester United’s aura as a footballing force in England, Europe and even the world has been on a free fall.
Plummeting stock, drop in Merchandise sales and competition for the Asian market are stark realities the club faces should they let slip against a club with history on its side.
Without the clout; missing a further season of UCL football, United’s ability to attract top, quality names will also take a hit.
It will mean a shortcoming in their capability to fight off interests from “bigger” teams for their own players on one hand and still remain competitive in the premier league.
This is the burden Mourinho carries, inadvertently, when or whether he takes his seat or decides to stand on the sideline to orchestrate another classy performance.
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