Man Utd’s dream amd nightmare ends to season with Bruno Fernandes future decided

Manchester United have endured an awful 2024/25 season and it could still go either way under Ruben Amorim as the campaign reaches its final throws with Champions League football still to play for

The 2024/25 season is one that will not live long in the memory of Manchester United fans. The Red Devils have endured a miserable campaign domestically amid terrible Premier League form.

United look set for their first bottom-half finish since 1990, while they are also out of both domestic cups. It has seen club chiefs make major changes, with Ruben Amorim replacing Erik ten Hag at the helm halfway through the season.

And even the former Sporting Lisbon coach hasn’t been able to inspire a serious upturn in form or results. But things could all change over the coming weeks, with a Champions League spot still up for grabs courtesy of their Europa League exploits.

So, Mirror Football has decided to take a look into the future to see how things could either go very right for the Red Devils or indeed very long. Take a look at what we’ve predicted:

Dream end

Let’s start with the positive, a Champions League place is still somehow in United’s hands. They’re going to have to win the Europa League in order to do it, with their path to a potential final already decided.

In a dream world, United will ease past French side Lyon over two legs to seal a semi-final showdown with either Athletic Bilbao or Rangers. And should they overcome either of those two, they will come up against any of the other four quarter-finalists including Tottenham, Frankfurt, Lazio or Bodo/Glimt.

On paper, the Norwegian side would be the easiest team to come up against in the final but there are still plenty of things to be decided before the club can start considering potential opponents. Back to the Premier League, a top-half finish is also within United’s grasp.

As it stands, they are seven points off the pace to break into the top half but a good run of form would definitely force them into contention. It might take a considerable drop-off from their rivals, but United would certainly take it whichever way it comes.

What has gone wrong for Man United this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Away from team targets, there are plenty of individuals that United will want to find some form heading into next season, chief among them being Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish forward has endured a rotten campaign but has started to get on the scoresheet recently having hit the back of the net in each of his last two appearances for club and country.

United will be hopeful of him extending that form, and finally showing the promise that convinced United to part with a huge sum for his services. And should he do that, it might alleviate the club’s need to spend heavily on yet another striker.

One major negative for United this season has been the lengthy list of injuries they have suffered this season. As it stands, they have ten stars restricted to the sidelines.

That includes key players Lisandro Martinez, Amad, Kobbie Mainoo and Patrick Dorgu, while promising defender Ayden Heaven is also out. If United can see a host of those stars recover and find some form ahead of a summer break and pre-season, it will only be a positive.

Nightmare end

While there are still plenty of twists and turns between now and the end of the season, it could all go very wrong for the Red Devils. Let’s start with what their season hinges on at the minute – the Europa League.

They could very easily be eliminated by Lyon at the quarter-final stage, a result that would effectively see their season over by April. And that could have dire consequences, with the lack of a Champions League payday likely to hit United’s plans to invest in Amorim’s squad.

Speaking of cash, United could see their wallet hit even more by a poor Premier League finish. While 13th spot would be a dire end to the campaign, it could get even worse, with there being a very realistic chance of United finishing even 16th, with West Ham who occupy that spot, sitting just three points behind.

That would represent United’s worst league performance since 1974 when they were relegated from the top flight. And that would see their potential performance earnings slump even lower.

An underwhelming finish such as that could have dire consequences on the morale within the group, with a number of stars looking to quit the club without European football. While Bruno Fernandes has never expressed a desire to leave, he could look to quit Old Trafford after that disappointment.

Other players that could look to leave include Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and more as the true reality of the club’s awful season dawns upon them.

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