Manchester United’s Europa League campaign has taken on even greater importance after co-owner Jim Ratcliffe admitted the club was on the brink of financial trouble.
United, languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, face Real Sociedad on Thursday with their last-16 tie evenly poised at 1-1. Winning the Europa League could be their only route back to Champions League revenue next season.
Ratcliffe has enforced strict cost-cutting, warning that without these measures, the club would have “run out of money by Christmas.” With £410 million in losses over seven years and plans for a £2 billion stadium still financially unclear, United need European success.
Tottenham are in a similar predicament, needing a comeback against AZ Alkmaar to stay in the competition. Rangers, meanwhile, have a strong advantage after a 3-1 win over Fenerbahce, while Athletic Bilbao must overturn a 2-1 deficit to Roma.
