Julius OkorieBirds of the same feather Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur who managed to finish the season above relegation zone, will be hoping to have something to smile about when they clash in the Europa League final tonight. The showdown is billed for San Mamés Barria (Bilbao) Spain.
Poor Run In The Season:
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBoth teams have had a rather poor run in the league this season, rooted in the 16th and 17 positions respectively with 39 and 38 points in 37 games, with just a game to spare.
Tottenham won the last meeting between the clubs, winning 1-0 in a Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in February, with James Maddison grabbing the only goal of the match in the 13th minute.
Spurs have got the better of Manchester United of late, unbeaten in their last six matches. Manchester United are looking for their first win in encounters between the two sides since October 2022. Spurs during that period have outscored United with 14 goals for and seven against.
Dominic Solanke Ready For More:
Nigeria born English player, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson have proved attacking threats for Tottenham in Europa League play.
Solanke is the club’s leading scorer with five goals, two of those having been the crucial first of the match. Johnson has been nearly as impressive with four goals, including two match-openers. Manchester United’s leading players in the final third have been Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Højlund, who have scored seven and six times, respectively, in this season’s Europa League. Fernandes is tied for the lead among the competition’s top scorers in 2024/2025, while Højlund is tied for fourth.
Despite their poor run in the league this season, both teams have been hardworking in Europa and evidence of their efforts brought them thus far.
Tottenham are unbeaten in home matches this Europa League season with five wins and two draws from their seven contests at home.
Manchester United have not been defeated in away matches in the competition this season with three wins and four draws away from home.
In their last six matches in all competitions, Tottenham have won two, drawn one and lost three. They scored seven and conceded 11 in that stretch, scoring first in four of the six contests.
A majority of their goals (four) came in the first half, while their opponents netted five times in the first 45 minutes.
Manchester United have won two, drawn one and lost three in their last six. They scored 11 and conceded nine in that stretch, netting first in two of the six.
They had four goals in the first half, while their opponents netted five times before the break. Tonight’s contest will be a battle of wits first team to score in this encounter stand a good chance of carrying the day. Because this is the only title this year both teams are looking forward to, it will a be a keen contest and promises to be full of fireworks.
Tottenham who are two-time winners of the Europa league, are eying their third title having won in 1972 and 1984, the last being 41 years ago. Manchester United on the other hand have just a title in the kitty won in 2017 and finishing as runners up in 2021.
Maguire Wants A United Man United Against Rampant Spurs:
Meanwhile, ahead of tonight’s showdown, Manchester United’s defender Harry Maguire has emphasised the importance of seizing an opportunity to turn a bad season into a victorious one by capturing the Europa League trophy.
He stated that Ruben Amorim’s squad must “give absolutely everything” in the upcoming final against Tottenham Hotspur.
Winning the Europa League not only offers a prestigious trophy but also secures a Champions League berth for the next season, making this match a vital chance for both clubs to salvage their campaigns.
Reflecting on their season, Maguire acknowledged the disappointments that have plagued the team. He admitted that United have fallen short in meeting the expectations of their devoted supporters.
He noted that their performance in the league has been “nowhere near good enough.”
This candid assessment underscores the frustration felt by players and fans alike, as the team’s inconsistency has become a recurring theme throughout the season.
As they prepare to face a struggling Tottenham squad, Maguire recognised that Spurs have also endured their share of challenges this term.
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He pointed out that both teams have been hindered by injuries and have grappled with finding consistent form.
Despite these obstacles, he remains optimistic, stating, “They’ve suffered as well as us this season. They’ve had a lot of injuries like us and have not been able to find that rhythm.”
Maguire expressed confidence in his team’s potential, highlighting the need for the players to be fully committed on the day of the final.
He stressed that success will rely on their ability to focus, execute their game plan, and harness the energy of the moment.
“We believe in ourselves. We have got to make sure we put the percentages in our favour in terms of turning up, giving absolutely everything and performing on the day, “he enthused.
Desperate Coaches At War!
Today’s battle is not only among players on the pitch but also that between Tottenham Coach Ange Postecoglou and United’s Ruben Amorim who are desperate to record some element of success this season.
Despite insinuations however, Postecoglou insisted on Tuesday that his future at the club doesn’t depend on whether or not he leads it to success in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Manchester United. And rightly so, he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day!
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
