Harry Maguire is sure that Manchester United will improve “a lot” after their first previous season under Ruben Amorim, although his immediate focus is on Europa League Glory.
United is facing Tottenham in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday, with both teams who want to save silverware – and Champions League qualification – from terrible campaigns.
United and Spurs are 16th and 17th respectively in the Premier League table, both on course for their worst top finish since the 1970s.
Both have been different propositions in Europe. United is the only unbeaten side in large UEFA competitions this season, won nine and attracts five of their 14 Europa League matches.
They could only be the fourth side to win the Europa League without losing a single match that campaign, after Chelsea in 2018-19, Villarreal in 2020-21 and Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021-22.
And Maguire-Die A Last Gasp Header scored to determine the most dramatic bond of United's Run, against Lyon in the last eight belt that they are on the right track.
“Of course it is a frustration. If you play for this club, you want to win every football match and this season we are far too inconsistent,” he said reporters.
“We have not won enough; it has not been good enough in the Premier League. Europa League has been different, we have performed at a high level and we have proven that we can beat someone.
“I am sure that next season we will improve a terrible amount, after a full preseason. As players we will all look forward to it, but we have a big game tomorrow night, in the first place.
“It is a special evening, a special occasion. We have prepared well in recent days and it is one that we are looking forward to.”
Back in Bilbao with our sights set on silverware #mufc || #Uelfinal pic.twitter.com/7ywgzoly8y
– Manchester United (@manutd) May 20, 2025
This will be the ninth major European final of United, with only Liverpool (15) that achieves more under English clubs.
The Red Devils did not succeed in winning three of their last four of such finals, against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2008-09 and 2010-11, and Villarreal in the 2020-21 Europa League.
Maguire was an unused replacement when United lost that last final under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but he is proud to fight his way back in the settlement after a difficult few years.
“It's great to be back in the team and play regularly,” said Magire. “This season I played a lot of football.
“I don't take too much notification from the experts or the media, things like that. If you play for this club, you can be a great player and you can be the villain the next week.
“That is a part of playing for this club. I don't read too much in it. I try to stay as level as I can. Every game I Inga and my Best do, and that's all you can do.”