Former coach Rene Meulensteen from Manchester United insists that winning the Europa League would not make up for a Premier League campaign that has been 'an extreme disaster from start to finish'.
United will be in the final in Bilbao next week in the final in the hope of ending a miserable season with a trophy that would also appreciate the Champions League qualification worth £ 100 million.
But Meulensteen does not believe that that paper would make about the cracks in the domestic form of United that could see Ruben Amorim's side finish in one place above the relegation zone.
The 61-year-old Dutch coach claims that the Europa League Amorim has 'saved' and focused on the stars of United by saying that Rasmiro, Casemiro, Harry Maguire and Christian Eriksen are not good enough to play for the club.
“It's very simple,” said Meulensteen, who worked with Sir Alex Ferguson for six years. “The Europa League has kept everyone alive, including Ruben Amorim.
'Yes, he came in in the middle of the season that was something he didn't want to do. But he took the step and you have to look at the competition as an extreme disaster from start to finish.
'Ruben has been held on his weapons in terms of wanting to play a 3-4-3 system that clearly worked for him in Europe, which is a bit weird and strange, but it has worked. They are in the final, so that is the silver lining. Unlike that, it has been completely good. '
Asked if the victory on Spurs in Bilbao would pay for the Premier League debacle, Meulensteen Action Network said: 'Absolutely not. This is the lowest they have ever finished in the Premier League.
'Let's look at the contribution of Bruno Fernandes this year with goals and assists, and it takes it away, it could have been worse.
'For both teams, Manchester United and Tottenham, it is vital that they win the Europa League because it gives them a ticket in the Champions League that creates extra money and creates the opportunity to sign other players they need. So there is so much driving in that final, but it doesn't make up for the competition. '
Meulensteen warned that United should be rebuilt in the summer or runs the risk of writing off a different season. He emphasized Hojlund as one of the current stars that is not aware and believes that United should try to sign Harry Kane from Bayern Munich to lead their attack.
'If not much happens on the transfer of the transfer, what would be different for the following season? Simply because Amorim will have a preseason for six weeks to play many friendly games? He has now had weeks during the international break and not a midweek competitions where he has worked with them.
'If you are talking about what needs to be done, then if they could seduce Harry Kane, it would be a huge boost because he is a proven goal scorer. But the system that plays United does not fit with Harry Kane because Stakers needs service. He (Amorim) wants to play with two no. 10s in the bag and you trust the wingbacks to constantly get into those areas and put the ball in.
'I can understand why Rasmus Hojlund gets so frustrated, although I don't think he's good enough. Harry Kane is like Ruud van Nistelrooy, you get three chances in the box and he will score one or two. That is the number game, so something has to be done there. '
Eriksen will leave as a free agent at the end of next month, together with Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans, but Meulensteen believes that there should be other players whose time should be at Old Trafford this summer.
'In midfield I cannot see Casemiro and Christian Eriksen there. When they are, they will definitely go in the wrong direction, “he added.
'In the back line, starting with the goalkeeper, without stability and cannot keep clean sheets. Every team that plays united, they know that they have absolutely opportunities to score goals.
“They can open them. If you see older combinations on the back, there is so much vulnerability and lack of stability. Whether it is Maguire, (Luke) Shaw, (Matthijs) de Ligt. There are too many players too long who do not have the caliber to play for United.
'Does Man United have to build their team around Harry Maguire and Casemiro? I wouldn't say absolutely.
'I think they both bring something to the game on their best days. But in my opinion, none of them are good enough to play for Manchester United now.
'The Premier League has run away from Casemiro, yes, he can still find a pass and every ball tends to land on his head when it is in the box.
'But also I can really be critical and say the amount of missed passes, the number of times he is reckless in tackles and the amount of players who end him (the team can cost).
'I am not a big fan of him with Harry Maguire. It has not changed and I emphasize the goal that was admitted during the weekend and how easily (Mohammed) Kudas walks past him.
'I think he lacks certain aspects of the game with speed and agility to be a really good central defender. On the ball he is fine – neat but a bit slow sometimes – but if they keep going with him, you get the same results that you have seen this year.
'If you have done a survey with Man United fans to write down the top five central defenders, you will have Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce, Rio Ferdinand, (Nemanja) Vidic, Jaap Stam … Magire would not even be mentioned.
“I mean that when I talk about the norms that Man United has had and where they are now.”