Manchester United could opt against handing Jose Mourinho an extension should the Red Devils fail to win to the Europa League.
According to Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror, Manchester United will offer manager Jose Mourinho a new contract if and only if he can guide the team over the line against Ajax in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Despite promising to compete for the title at the start of the season, Mourinho’s side has fallen way short of expectations and have only won the EFL Cup. They finished in a dismal 6th position on the table, and are in serious risk of missing out on Champions League for the second straight season.
At one stage it appeared to be a certainty that United would finish in the top four and march into the Champions League via the Premier League, but due to a dismal home record, they now have to rely on winning the Europa League.
Jose signed an initial four-year contract when he walked through the door in the summer, and plans were in shape to hand him a considerable pay raise and increase his tenure by two more seasons.
However, club CEO Ed Woodward may not be willing to hand Mourinho an extension at the end of the season if he fails to bring the club into Europe’s elite club competition. Absence from the Champions League results in dire financial losses for the administration of the team.
If the Red Devils fail to qualify for the Champions League, they will incur a £50 million loss on matchday, sponsorship and TV revenue, and will also see their Adidas kit deal worth £75 million per season cut down by 30 percent.
Despite improving the brand of football and signing quality players, in the eyes of Woodward, the club is run as a financial unit, and silverware is all that matters. Competing in bigger competitions gives the club numerous sources of income, and makes its running more efficient.
The club’s owners are in no mind to make their third managerial change since 2013, but may be forced to do so if the team cannot get their hands on the trophy in the Europa League in Stockholm.
Also, parting ways with the manager will not be cheap for the club as they are liable to pay a compensation amount to the person as well as his coaching staff. For example, United paid a total of £8.4 million as compensation to Louis Van Gaal and his subordinates at the club.