This has to be written in the stars, there’s no other explanation. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were having a nightmare season, fighting for the 15th place in the Premier League, and being much closer to the relegation zone than to the newly crowned champions, Liverpool, who have left them more than 40 points behind at this point.Their respective bosses, Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou, have suffered almost unprecedented criticism from both media and fans for the worst results in the modern EPL era. It’s a bit of a miracle that they both have survived in the dugout until now, as their work was (deservedly, though) put under severe scrutiny following a domestic campaign that could have ended even in relegation if it wasn’t for below-par Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton.The worst in England but they are in the final!After months of genuine calvary, somewhat shy yet effective, both the Red Devils and Spurs suddenly found themselves on the verge of -here comes the funny part – remarkable success.That Europa League life-saving boat has proved to be precisely that – a chance to save the horrific season out of the blue and turn it into an excellent one, even a bit historic.Manchester United and Tottenham are in the bottom six of the Premier League but could potentially win a European trophy this season 😈Arsenal (2nd): trophyless pic.twitter.com/wUtoLMskkd— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 7, 2025 That applies especially to Tottenham, who were the first English and British club to win a major European, UEFA-regulated competition with their win against Atletico Madrid in the final of the 1962-63 European Cup Winners’ Cup. However, their third European trophy and the last to this day was the 1984 UEFA Cup title. As bizarre as it gets, that 41-year-long trophy drought could end in their most terrible season in more than 30 years!##NAJAVA_MECA_8918724##Despite a slight fear ahead of the UEL semi-final return leg in the Arctic Circle against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night, Spurs not only protected their 3-1 advantage from the first leg, but recorded another routine victory, this time even without conceding a goal. In the press conference after the match, Postecoglou gave one of those speeches that will be remembered, especially if Spurs go all the way and beat Manchester United in the Bilbao final next week.”It’s going to upset a lot of people, isn’t it?” said Postecoglou.”Neither us will get a trophy if we win, we’re just going to take a team picture.”Who cares if we’re struggling in the league?”This club and others have finished first, second and third in the Premier League and haven’t made finals. I couldn’t care less who is struggling and who’s not.”Both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there. I’m looking forward to it and it should be a great game.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##There was no need for any further questions. The Australian kept his monologue going…”I’ve said all along that this is important,” Postecoglou continued.”What’s happening now is people are fearing that – that it actually might happen, and let’s see how we can tear it down somehow and diminish it somehow by saying it’s been a poor season and we don’t deserve this or we don’t deserve that, or somehow comparing us to Man Utd.”Maybe if we had Man Utd’s success then maybe I’d have a different view. So, of course it’s massive. Of course it is, because you have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15 or 20 years and what the supporters have been through.”We’ve given them some real hope and something to dream about that we can do something special this year.”Journalist: “Man United have constantly said this competition won’t save their season… would it save Tottenham’s season?” Ange Postecoglou: “Why do I care what Man United think?” pic.twitter.com/MEj3WUiWhn— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 8, 2025 Unlike Ange’s men, Ruben Amorim’s side conceded an opener against Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford last, which sparked a bit of tension among the fans despite the impressive 3-0 away win in the first leg. The Red Devils bounced back successfully and quickly, though, putting four past Bilbao’s keeper in front of an emphatic crowd for a staggering 7-1 win on aggregate.The Portuguese tactician was straightforward after the game, like his counterpart from North London.”I’m just worried about the next game, trying to not get any injuries for the final. If we don’t win the final, it means nothing for us,” said Amorim and added:”We have to have a full squad [against Tottenham], stay in the game and have a bit of luck and we have to be clinical.”It’s quite similar for me and Ange [Postecoglou]. It is a tough moment [for us both] and one of us is going to win. It’s going to be a big final and we will try to win.”It’s hard to describe what it’s like to be manager of this club and you want to give them [the fans] something because we were so disappointing in the Premier League. We want to give something to the fans.”Only two Man Utd managers have reached a major European final in the first season in charge.Ruben Amorim and Jose Mourinho 🏆 pic.twitter.com/i0cl8MiWgN— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 8, 2025 Tottenham legend, former England international, and Three Lions coach Glenn Hoddle summed it up perfectly by describing the UEL showdown as a ‘titanic battle’. “To beat a team four times also from the Premier League in one season is really tough (Tottenham already defeated United on three occasions this season),” Hoddle said on TNT Sports.Tottenham have played Manchester United three times this season and WON every single time.They face each other in the Europa League final. Who do you think will win? pic.twitter.com/9rK0fYS30Q— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 8, 2025 He added: “It will be a titanic battle. Spurs have had the upper hand at the moment, but United is looking for revenge.”Ex-Red Devils star Paul Scholes believes his former side will rise to the occasion in the final.He said: “For some reason, the history of this club is almost like Real Madrid at times – when they aren’t playing that well, they can still go on and win European cups.”Manchester United’s history tells me they will win it, they know how to win trophies, Tottenham don’t.”The above-mentioned titanic battle between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, in Bilbao.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE – FINAL21.05. Wed 21:00: (2.90) Tottenham (3.30) Man.Utd. (2.45)***odds are subject to change***
