Manchester United will not hold its annual end-of-the-season awards dinner for a second consecutive season, Afrosport reports.
This follows the club’s abysmal campaign with exits in the League Cup and FA Cup as well as disappointing performances in the Premier League, where they currently sit 16th with 39 points, having lost 17 league games, including Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to West Ham United.
The Red Devils are on course for their worst-ever season in Premier League history and their worst league finish since the 1973-74 relegation season, prompting the club’s hierarchy to cancel the annual awards dinner.
The awards ceremony honors the best-performing players from across the men’s, women’s, and youth teams, and United will fail to hold the event for a second year running after the men’s team finished eighth in the Premier League last season but won the FA Cup.
Ruben Amorim’s men are without a win in their last seven league games but have a must-win Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 May , their only chance to salvage a grossly disappointing season as well as qualify for the Champions League.
United have also reportedly ruled out a parade if the men’s team defeats Tottenham in the Europa League final, with the club opting to celebrate their potential triumph with a barbecue at their Carrington training ground the day after the game.
Meanwhile, the women’s team will defend their FA Cup title against Chelsea in the final at Wembley on Sunday. Marc Skinner’s ladies have also booked a place in next season’s Women’s Champions League following a third-place finish in the league.
Bruno Fernandes and Ella Toone won the men’s and women’s Player of the Year awards last season without a ceremony, and this year’s representative will follow suit.
The 13-time Premier League champions have also called on fans to vote for the player of the season and goals of the season across both the men’s and women’s categories.
The awards will, however, be presented on the pitch at Old Trafford before the men’s final home game of the season against Aston Villa on 25 May.
