With seven Premier League games left to play, it’s ‘squeaky bum time’ for Manchester United as Louis van Gaal’s men aim to hunt down rivals City and sneak into the 2015-16 Champions League.
If United do not finish the campaign in the top four, this season will surely have to be regarded as a failure for the Red Devils.
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Such a failure is likely to have serious consequences. The fall in income and status which will come as a result of a season away from Europe’s top competition will make it much harder for United to build a better future.
But at least they’ll shave a few quid of the wage bill. £14m in fact, according to The Times, who report that clauses in contracts will see several of United’s players and staff member have their salaries cut should they finish outside of the top four.
The Times claim that the cuts would work out at around £500,000 per player.
Here come the conspiracy theorists!
Man United’s next game is at Spurs on Sunday. The Red Devils will start the match as underdogs against Mauricio Pochettino’s title-chasers, but the reverse fixture did go in United’s favour earlier this season.