The final round of Premier League fixtures are set to be played on Sunday 21st May and Man United cannot improve on the sixth place they already hold. Similarly, Crystal Palace's future in the top flight is assured for next season at least. However, Jose Mourinho has made a plea to Sam Allardyce.
Mourinho's plea
With both team's futures assured for next season, Mourinho has publicly stated that he does not want to be slated for fielding a severely under-strength team in Sunday's clash and hopes that Allardyce will " go easy" on them. The United manager has been vocal about the decision to play the game on a Sunday saying that it gives his players too little time to recover before the fixture that he is pinning his hopes on to ensure United get Champions League football next year.
Man United's season
This has been Mourinho's first season in charge and remains his final throw of the dice for top level European games at Old Trafford for 2017-18. Expectations were high with the arrival of " The Special One" but, in truth, United have failed to impress. They have lacked the dominance of the Ferguson era and have thrown away points to teams below them that they should easily have despatched.
While players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David de Gea and Marcus Rashford have consistently impressed with their performances and Marouane Fellaini seems to have a new lease of life under the Portuguese, other senior players like Wayne Rooney and Chris Smalling have not lived up to their reputations and for a team that cost an estimated £260 million, the Old Trafford faithful must have expected better.
Next season
There is already talk that David de Gea will leave Old Trafford for Spanish giants Real Madrid and Wayne Rooney may well be on his way elsewhere as he regularly misses first team action. Mourinho will need access to huge funds in the transfer pot this summer if his team does win the final and they are to be taken as serious contenders in the Champions League.
If this season is anything to go by there is still a long way to go before the final pieces of his team are in place.
The Europa League final
The final is to be played on Wednesday 24th May against Dutch giants Ajax in Stockholm and remains Mourinho's only hope of ensuring Champions League football next season and all the riches that brings.
However, the game against Southampton on 17th May brought him another injury headache as Marouane Fellaini limped off. Already missing Ibrahimovic for such a huge game, and having decided to leave out De Gea, Mourinho must be hoping for the best.
