United, Spurs need Champions League money

MANCHESTER United and Tottenham will aim to salvage disastrous domestic seasons in tonight's Europa League final (9pm SA time kick-off), with the prize of a lucrative place in next season’s Champions League as treasured as the trophy.

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Both clubs head to Bilbao for the final assailed by stinging criticism amid their worst seasons of the Premier League era.

United sit 16th and Tottenham are one point worse off in 17th, with just one league game remaining.

Only the struggles of relegated trio Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton saved United and Tottenham from an embarrassing battle to avoid crashing into the Championship.

For the loser of the final, the hang-over from this season threatens to be a long one as the lack of European football will deal a monumental blow to their budgets going forward.

"It really does impact I think the next two or three years for both clubs,” said former United captain Gary Neville.

“They need investment into their teams, and if they don’t get this Champions League money, then there is going to be a lot less investment, which means they might not make the Champions League next season.”

United have only once failed to qualify for Europe in the past 35 years.