Bruno Fernandes admits that winning the Europa League can change the future for Manchester United.
The Reds have struggled in the Premier League all season but been flawless in Europe, remaining unbeaten en route to the big game against Tottenham Hotspur, which kicks off at 20:00 BST on Wednesday.
Of course, the silverware on offer is also accompanied by entry into next season's Champions League, and the captain believes victory over Spurs could trigger a consistent change in fortunes under head coach Ruben Amorim.
“Every game you have a chance to win a trophy is very big but part of that is every game at this club is massive,”
declared Fernandes at a press conference at San Mames. “As Harry [Maguire] has just said, this club is so big, from one week you can be the hero and, the next one, you're the villain.
”As players, you just think about what we have ahead of us and what we have ahead of us is the chance to get our hands on the trophy. It won't change the past. It won't affect what the past has done for us either but what i can affect is the future. Probably, yes, winning a trophy gives a lot of things. In this case, a place in the Champions League and a lot of revenue for the club. It gets, obviously, more players wanting to come to the club.
“But I think this club doesn't change much in that aspect because I think every player wants to play for Manchester United. This is a thing that will never change. The name of this club speaks for itself. But the main thing, of course, is what is ahead of us and that is a massive final, against a team we know very well.
”But in a competition different to the Premier League so it's going to be a completely different game.“
Bruno was also asked about only five United skippers in the past lifting a European trophy but stressed this was not at the forefront of his mind.
“Obviously, we talk about the Europa League and the Europa League is everything in our minds,”
he said. “We play the final tomorrow and we can be successful in this competition. Obviously, I know the Premier League has not been as good as we want. And all the other cups the same because our aim is always to get to the end of the competitions and win the trophies.
”Obviously, as you said, I'm not here thinking I'm one of the captains lifting a European trophy. Obviously, it's a very good feeling and I'm very proud of it but, at the same time, for me, the main thing is that our team gets to bring the trophy back to Manchester.
“Everyone will have time to lift the trophy, one at a time, or whatever, the main thing is that it is the red shirts lifting the trophy.”
The future may be on the mind of Fernandes but he has stressed this is a chance for United that cannot be passed up.
“The manager has been very clear on that,”
he added. “We want to be on the top of everything. We want to be fighting for everything. It's not always possible to be in the final and winning trophies but our aim, the goal is always to be at the end of competitions, fighting for the possibility of winning trophies.
”That is what we want. Tomorrow is a big chance, where our aims at the start of the season was being in Bilbao in the final. We have to focus, we have a big game, a big goal and the opportunity to get silverware.“