Europa League final 2025: Build up and latest updates from Tottenham vs Manchester United
21 May 2025 5:08pm
5:08PM
'Six teams would be an absurdity'
The winners of tonight's final will join the Premier League's top five in next season's Champions League. It was once contentious when a tournament previously reserved for league winners was expanded to include two, three, and then four teams from the big leagues. Six would be unprecedented and would present logistical challenges. Clubs from the same association are not supposed to play each other in the league phase. The six Premier League teams will play eight games each in a 36-team tournament. You do the maths.
As Jim White writes here, it is part of the slow dilution of Europe's Premier club competition.
The time has long gone to hark back to the glorious days when the only way two clubs from the same country could make it into the European Cup is for one of them to have won the thing the previous season.
5:00PM
United and Spurs' season comes down to one night in Bilbao
It seems grossly unfair for a club's entire season to be defined by one 90 minutes, but that is the unavoidable predicament facing Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur going into tonight's Europa League final.
Losing a final is always painful, but sometimes offers forms of consolation: the wins along the away in a cup run for example, or the promise of greater success next season. That is not the case this evening. The losing finalists will be left with nothing, in every sense. No trophy, no Champions League qualification, no increase in revenues, and only a historically bad Premier League season on which to reflect during a long, bitter summer. Defeat could also prompt managerial change, especially in the case of Ange Postecoglou.
That has informed the sense that this game is more about looming negative consequences rather than the prize on offer, though Spurs supporters would dispute that. They have enjoyed several seasons in the Champions League in recent memory, including an appearance in the 2019 final. Major silverware has been absent since the 2008 League Cup though, a barren run of such infamy there is an X account tallying up the days since Tottenham's last trophy. The total stands at 6,296.
The opposite is probably true for United, who have lifted pots in each of the last two seasons but need Champions League revenues to fund the rejuvenation of the squad Ruben Amorim requires. Haphazard spending on transfer fees and wages and a decline in league position has put the club on a difficult financial footing in the PSR era. That has brought talks of selling academy graduates such as Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho. Win tonight and Amorim might be offered a shortcut in his rebuild, lose and it could stall further.
Tottenham have won this competition twice, in 1972 and 1984, while United did so in 2017 under Jose Mourinho. They lost the 2021 final on penalties to Villarreal, a result from which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer never quite recovered.
Spurs are without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski through injury. United were handed a surprise boost as Lenny Yoro, Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee all trained this week. Amorim's dilemma will be whether to stick with Rasmus Hojlund, whose form has been stuck in a rut.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
29 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Sunday's briefing: England U21s continue Euros defence as PSG begin CWC campaign
Under-21s boss Carsley expects more England Under-21s boss Carsley insisted his side still had plenty to improve on, despite a winning start at the European Championship. Goals from Harvey Elliott, Jonathan Rowe and Charlie Cresswell saw Croatia defeated 3-1, with Sunday's game against Slovenia providing a chance to cement their place in the knockout rounds. 'It might seem a bit clunky at times, unstructured, but I thought the players took on board what we tried to do, lots of positives, the Czechs had good chances as well so lots to improve,' said Carsley. 'The longer I feel we can stay in the competition, the more clean our play will become.' Dembele has Ballon d'Or dreams Champions League winner Ousmane Dembele is chasing the 'holy grail' of the Ballon d'Or. The forward's performances were integral to Paris St Germain's inaugural triumph in Europe's premier club competition but having conquered that challenge, the 28-year-old is looking to emulate his idol and former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi. 'Winning a Ballon d'Or when you're a footballer is obviously the holy grail on an individual level. It's something you dream of as a child,' Dembele told France Football. 'I've had difficult years with injuries, weak performances as well. This season I think I've been consistent, so we'll see what happens. 'It would be exceptional to have my name on the list and to be one of the favourites is already a great victory, although I hope to win it one day. Bright future ahead for FC United FC United want to continue being an 'antidote' to modern football as the breakaway club celebrate their 20th anniversary. The Glazer family's controversial takeover at Manchester United was the catalyst for the club's foundation on June 14, 2005, offering an affordable, inclusive and fan-owned alternative for disenfranchised supporters. FCUM reached the National League North and built a 4,900-capacity stadium within a decade and now the goal is for the Northern Premier League Premier Division side to kick on again. 'I think the future's bright. I think we're about to enter into our next grand phase,' chair Nick Boom told the PA news agency. 'We've spent a lot of time trying to kind of get the club into a position where it's financially stable and it feels like we now have got to a position where we can kind of invest.' What's on today? Champions League winners Paris St Germain take on Atletico Madrid in an early glamour tie in the Club World Cup. Bayern Munich against Auckland City offers less allure. England Under-21s could secure progress to the European Championship knockout stage with victory over Slovenia.
Scotsman
36 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Hearts latest including Claudio Braga update and why another target has snubbed move
Here are some of the latest transfer headlines with some Hearts flavourings. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts have been busy on the transfer front and things don't look like slowing down anytime soon. The club are on the hunt for new recruits and are using Jamestown Analytics to help head coach Derek McInnes put together a team primed for chasing down third place. Teenage Nigerian striker Uchenna Ogundu is a transfer target for Hearts as is Aalesunds FK forward Claudio Braga and a defender McInnes knows well, Stuart Findlay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis, Belgian striker Elton Kabangu and Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee have already signed. Here are some of the latest transfer headlines when it comes to Hearts. Claudio Braga update from Norway Aalesunds are set to miss striker Braga from upcoming squads ahead of a busy period for the Norwegian side. They face Stabæk Fotball on Sunday and face four more games before the end of the month, with Norwegian publictation AESby stating Braga is not set to be involved in upcoming fixtures amid the Hearts chatter. That's despite a notion that 'the AaFK coach would have preferred to have Claudio Braga with him during the hectic period' and that it 'leaves the club even more vulnerable.' Head coach Kjetil Rekdal said: 'There is a clear challenge there, but it means that more people get the chance and have to take advantage of it. We have a number of players who are probably capable of starting all the games, but it is something we have to take when it comes. We have to play the games in a smart way when they come as close as they do. That means we have to be more controlled, that there is not too much going around, because it requires energy.' Why Daniel Arzani has opted for Hungary Daniel Arzani has chosen Hungarian champions Ferencvaros over a move to Hearts. The Jambos were interested and made an approach to sign the Australian international winger. He has gone elsewhere in Europe and part of the attraction is playing Champions League football, his new club entering at the second qualifying round. He said: 'It's been an incredible few days and I can't wait to get started. For me, it would be an incredible experience to play in the Champions League. It would be incredible for the club and for me personally as well. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I know it is important for this club to continue its winning traditions and I think that is massive and very important for me, going for eight in a row and hopefully we win the cup as well. I think I can be a bit better in my final product so I'd love to hit double figures goals and assists this season. This chat started about a month and half or two months ago now. 'When I spoke to a few of the boys from the national team, everyone knew about the club and had very good things to say. Some had played against Ferencvaros, a couple have had a little bit of interest in the last couple of years. It's an incredible club and for me personally I didn't realise how big the club was. I did a little bit of my own research and was astounded. It's really exciting.' Former keeper signs new contract at Reading Joel Pereira has signed a new three-year contract to extend his stay until 2028 at Reading. The former Man Utd starlet spent time on loan in Gorgie during the 19/20 season and hit 50 appearances for Reading in the 2024/25 season. Co-Chief Executive, Joe Jacobson said "We are thrilled that Joel has extended his contract here at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, he is a goalkeeper with immense talent and a vital part of the dressing room. We were keen to get this done as quick as possible, he is an essential part of a plans moving forward, he had plenty of interest in his services and it is a big coup for the club."
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Canter secures second five-star victory in six weeks
Olympic gold medallist Ros Canter won the Luhmuhlen Horse Trials to secure a second five-star win in six rode Izilot DHI to victory in Germany to claim her fourth five-star level win. The former world champion was second after the dressage and cross country phases behind Olympic team-mate Laura Collett, who won the 2023 Collett, last out riding London 52, knocked down a rail in the showjumping finale to slip to third overall."It's hard to get my head around it to be honest. I'm very proud of it because it's not always about riding, it's confidence and I've had to work very hard at that," said Canter. The reigning European champion was part of the British eventing team to win gold at the Paris Olympics last summer and won the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials for a second time in May. Canter added: "The dream was always there because I loved watching old videos of Badminton and Burghley but I didn't think it would ever be me."The 39-year-old also paid tribute to her coach and mentor Caroline Moore, who died in March."I think Caroline would have found this very special."
