Rio Ferdinand gives honest verdict on Tottenham vs Man Utd Europa League final - 'lunatics!'

Rio Ferdinand has stated that Manchester United fans would be "lunatics" to be surprised if the team loses to Tottenham in the Europa League final.

Following their 18th defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss to on Friday, United are set to face a side that has already beaten them three times this season, twice in the league and also in the Carabao Cup.

“I don’t think the fans can be too surprised,” TNT pundit Ferdinand said should United fall short in the final. “I think the real, honest fans will look at this as a 50/50 game, because they (Spurs) have beaten us three times already this season, so it won’t be a surprise if they beat us for a fourth time.

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“It will only be the stupid people who are going, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe this’. We’re 16th because we’ve lost a lot of games. I think we’ve lost 18 games this season, so anyone who’s surprised if we don’t win this game against Spurs is a lunatic in my eyes.”

, scheduled for Wednesday in Bilbao, holds significant importance, as the winner will secure a spot in next season's Champions League and the accompanying financial benefits. Ferdinand, a six-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner during his 12-year tenure at Old Trafford, believes a victory could mark the beginning of a "new era" for United.

“With Manchester United, they need the money to recruit for this manager and it’s a vital period for him in that sense,” he said. “I do think it’s a chance to press the restart button and it will be a new era if these are the guys who managed to win.

“(They will feel like), ‘We’ve seen what it’s like to win and let’s replicate that in the Premier League’. It’s a chance to create a narrative which is advantageous for the players who are there.”

United boss Amorim earlier this month raised the prospect of a change in the dugout should his side’s poor form continue into next season. On those comments, Ferdinand added: “His quotes were there for all to see the other day – next season if it’s the same after a couple of months then maybe it’s the chance for someone else. I think he said that himself and I think that’s fair.”