Both aiming to end dismal seasons on a high, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will meet in Bilbao for Wednesday’s Europa League final.Domestic deficiencies can be brushed aside for 90 minutes – or more – as they convene for the sixth all-English UEFA final; like Spurs, United’s European hopes for next season also rest on success at San Mames.
Despite all the doom produced by their Premier League campaign, Tottenham could still finish the 2024-25 season with a long-desired major trophy, having waited 17 years to lift any silverware.
Spurs won the UEFA Cup twice before it eventually developed into the Europa League – in 1972 and 1984 – so victory in Spain would also see them become the second English club to win Europe’s second-tier tournament three times, along with Liverpool.
Of course, their last final appearance was a 2-0 loss to the Merseyside giants in the 2018-19 Champions League, but having emerged from the inaugural league phase and then progressed through the knockout rounds, they are back – and just one win away from proving Ange Postecoglou’s prophecy right.
