Premier League strugglers Spurs and Manchester United will contest the 2025 Europa League final today in Bilbao, Spain. The trophy has never been won by a team in such a lowly position in their league.
For both teams, it represents a lifeline at the end of a miserable season, the chance not just for redemption but more importantly a coveted – and lucrative – spot in next season’s Champions League.
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Win And Be Fired?
The Man Utd board have indicated that Ruben Amorim will keep his job no matter the result. The same is unlikely to apply to Spurs’ Ange Postecoglou. Asked about this Amorim said:
“People, especially the board, understand that we have a lot of issues that in the context are really hard. I don’t know how to explain [why] the fans like me at this moment. It’s hard to explain. I will try to prove myself to the fans, to the board, but I don’t have an explanation for you.”
Meanwhile Postecoglou had this to say, “I’ll tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I’m not a clown and never will be”, leading to some inevitable responses…
League Positions Don’t Lie
Manchester United currently sit in 16th place and Spurs are in 17th in the Premier League, just above the relegation zone and easily their worst positions since the inception of the EPL.
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Never before has the Europa League final been contested between teams as low as this in their leagues. Last year’s event took place between Atalanta (4th in Serie A) and Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga champions).
The next “worst” final took place in 2021/22 when Eintracht Frankfurt (11th in Bundesliga) took on Rangers (2nd in the Scottish Championship).
Spurs and Man Utd are big clubs in crisis. Bilbao will be packed with English fans hoping…praying for salvation from the misery of their 2024/5 league campaigns.
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The final is available to view in the US exclusively on Paramount+ at 3pm ET.