Dalot: United fans deserve glory after season of suffering

New York Times

22-05-2025

Follow live reaction today from Bilbao today after Brennan Johnson's first-half goal lifted Spurs to their first major trophy since 2008 Getty Images
Diogo Dalot had a message for the Manchester United supporters when he spoke to BBC Radio Manchester on Friday.
💬 'We will do whatever we can to find that win and to bring you that trophy because you deserve it. More than anything, you deserve the best because you have been suffering a lot throughout this season with us.
'I know winning this competition is important, so I'm sure everybody in the dressing room and all of the staff know we carry that weight with us.
'Together we are much stronger than people think.'
Zirkzee, Yoro, and Dalot's returns are a huge boost to Amorim, meaning only De Ligt is now the only doubt alongside long-term absentee Lisandro Martinez. Zirkzee's return is the biggest surprise.
The 23-year-old's hamstring injury had threatened to rule him out for the rest of the season but he revealed last week — on Alphonso Davies' Twitch stream no less — that a return for the final was 'difficult, but not impossible'.
Whether he is ready for minutes is a different question, though.
Dalot was hopeful of returning in time from a calf injury when speaking at United's pre-final media day last week, while Yoro's potential availability is a relief after coming off in worrying circumstances in the recent defeat against West Ham United.
They weren't the only new additions at open training — of sorts. Alejandro Garnacho has a new peroxide blonde haircut for the big occasion.
There were timely returns to training yesterday for Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, and Joshua Zirkzee as it had been tough-and-go as to whether the trio would be fit for today's final.
That said, it is unclear how much of the game they will be to play, while Matthijs de Ligt is still injured and will not feature. He joins fellow centre-back Lisandro Martinez in watching from the stands or from the television.
The other big boost in the last few weeks has been the return of Amad, who will surely start today if he is fully fit.
GO FURTHER
Manchester United trio Zirkzee, Dalot and Yoro fit for Europa League final, says Amorim
From Ian Irving, host of the Talk of the Devils podcast:
I sailed through security in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport a couple of hours ago. Was it ever in doubt?
A lot of United fans about, not many in shirts, just the usual black on black.
The lad on security said he'd searched CBS new boy Roy Keane's bag and Arne Slot had also been through this morning.
I believe the Liverpool manager's more a fan of the Balearics than Bilbao though.
The prospect of facing Athletic Club in the semi-final led many to believe that United had run out of road in the Europa League.
And the Spaniards started strongly in front of their own fans in the first leg at San Mames, the site of today's final.
But they were soon behind as Casemiro headed in from close range to give the visitors the lead. It was a lead they would add to before half-time after Daniel Vivian was sent off for pulling Rasmus Hojlund down in the penalty area.
Bruno Fernandes converted from 12 yards and then scored again on the stroke of the break, giving United a 3-0 lead to take back to Old Trafford.
There was brief panic in that second leg when Mikel Jauregizar gave the visitors the lead but the hosts rallied and ultimately ran out big winners.
Goals from Mason Mount (2), Casemiro and Hojlund made it 4-1 on the night and 7-1 on aggregate. Athletic Club 0-3 Manchester United (Casemiro, Fernandes x2)
(Casemiro, Fernandes x2) Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club (Mount x2, Casemiro, Mount)
There's leaving it late — and then there's United's quarter-final second-leg win against Lyon.
Before that, they had drawn 2-2 in France with a couple of late goals from Rayan Cherki and Joshua Zirkzee before the bonkers game at Old Trafford.
There, United started strongly thanks to an early goal from Manuel Ugarte, and they doubled their advantage through Diogo Dalot just before half-time.
They looked to be cruising... but two goals in seven minutes from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico brought the visitors level.
In extra time, Cherki gave the visitors — who were down to 10 men — the lead before an Alexandre Lacazette penalty put United on the brink of an embarrassing exit.
But Bruno Fernandes scored a spot kick, Kobbie Mainoo equalised off the bench, and auxiliary striker Harry Maguire headed home just seconds later to seal a hugely dramatic stoppage-time victory. Lyon 2-2 Manchester United (Yoro, Zirkzee)
(Yoro, Zirkzee) Manchester United 5-4 (AET) Lyon (Ugarte, Dalot, Fernandes, Mainoo, Maguire) Getty Images
Old Trafford has been the place for big European performances from United this season.
Up against tricky opponents in the form of La Liga side Real Sociedad in the round of 16, Ruben Amorim's side drew 1-1 away in Spain in the first leg as Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty was cancelled out by Joshua Zirkzee's equaliser.
But Bruno Fernandes soon squashed any second-leg nerves with a hat-trick in the 4-1 win at Old Trafford. That set United on course for a meeting with Lyon in the quarter-final. Real Sociedad 1-1 Manchester United (Zirkzee)
(Zirkzee) Manchester United 4-1 Real Sociedad (Fernandes x3, Dalot) Getty Images
Manchester United made a very slow start in Europe this season as they were winless through their first three games, drawing in Porto and Istanbul after a disappointing opening home draw against FC Twente.
It soon improved, though, as they won their five remaining league-phase matches to cruise into the knockouts.
Only Lazio and Athletic Club accrued more points than United (18) from those eight games. Manchester United 1-1 Twente (Eriksen)
(Eriksen) Porto 3-3 Manchester United (Rashford, Hojlund, Maguire)
(Rashford, Hojlund, Maguire) Fenerbahce 1-1 Manchester United (Eriksen)
(Eriksen) Manchester United 2-0 PAOK (Amad x2)
(Amad x2) Manchester United 3-2 Bodo/Glimt (Garnacho, Hojlund x2)
(Garnacho, Hojlund x2) Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Manchester United (Hojlund x2)
(Hojlund x2) Manchester United 2-1 Rangers (Butland OG, Fernandes)
(Butland OG, Fernandes) FCSB 0-2 Manchester United (Dalot, Mainoo) Getty Images
Spurs got off to a dream start against Bodo/Glimt in north London, with Yves Bissouma and Richarlison — two surprise picks by Ange Postecoglou — combining to set up Brennan Johnson with only 37 seconds on the clock.
Spurs were then rewarded for a patient, mature and notably direct first-half performance with a second goal just after the half-hour mark, James Maddison latching onto a long pass from Pedro Porro and guiding the ball into the Glimt net.
The third Spurs goal was a nonchalantly taken second-half penalty from Dominic Solanke, after VAR had spied a foul on Cristian Romero by Fredrik Sjovold.
But just as it looked like being a perfect evening, injuries to Maddison and Solanke were followed by a late goal from Ulrik Saltnes, which kept the Norwegian side — just about — in the tie.
But for all the talk of their fantastic home record on a plastic pitch, Bodo/Glimt were toothless in the second leg and goals from Solanke and Porro booked Tottenham's place in Bilbao. Tottenham 3-1 Bodo/Glimt (Johnson, Maddison, Solanke)
(Johnson, Maddison, Solanke) Bodo/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham (Solanke, Porro)
Tottenham's night at home against Eintracht Frankfurt started catastrophically, with Hugo Ekitike firing in a fine opener for the visitors, but Pedro Porro's back-heeled goal drew them level before the interval.
Spurs worked feverishly in the second period in search of a winner, but despite creating some fine chances, they could not find another breakthrough.
Advantage Frankfurt, or so it seemed. But in one of Europe's most intimidating arenas, Spurs delivered the performance of their season.
Frankfurt's Waldstadion was a seething swirl of noise for but Spurs kept their heads and eked out a narrow 1-0 victory courtesy of Dominic Solanke's first-half penalty. Tottenham 1-1 Frankfurt (Porro)
(Porro) Frankfurt 0-1 Tottenham (Solanke) Getty Images
Lucas Bergvall scored an unfortunate own goal in the first half against AZ, who should have won by more at home.
But Spurs were vastly improved in north London a week later. Wilson Odobert was the star of the show as he scored his first two goals in a Spurs shirt either side of a James Maddison strike.
It was far from plain sailing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with AZ's Peer Koopmeiners briefly making the tie 2-2 on aggregate and the visitors failing to make some late pressure count.
Ultimately, Ange Postecoglou's side held their nerve to book their place in the last eight. AZ 1-0 Tottenham
Tottenham 3-1 AZ (Odobert x2, Maddison)
Spurs made a fine start to the inaugural Europa League 'league phase', beating Qarabag, Ferencvaros, and AZ in their opening three matches.
Their only defeat came in the fourth match, on the road to Galatasaray. Will Lankshear — now on loan at West Bromwich Albion — got Tottenham's equaliser after they fell behind early into the game, only to be sent off later in the match.
The brilliant Victor Osimhen struck twice for the Turkish side, meaning Dominic Solanke's late goal was only a consolation.
Spurs followed up that performance with two draws, against Roma and Rangers, as injuries struck. But they reached the next round with gutsy victories against Hoffenheim and Elfsborg. Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag (Johnson, Sarr, Solanke)
(Johnson, Sarr, Solanke) Ferencvaros 1-2 Tottenham (Sarr, Johnson)
(Sarr, Johnson) Tottenham 1-0 AZ (Richarlison)
(Richarlison) Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham (Lankshear, Solanke)
(Lankshear, Solanke) Tottenham 2-2 Roma (Son, Johnson)
(Son, Johnson) Rangers 1-1 Tottenham (Kulusevski)
(Kulusevski) Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham (Maddison, Son x2)
(Maddison, Son x2) Tottenham 3-0 Elfsborg (Scarlett, Ajayi, Moore) Getty Images
Manchester United and Tottenham knew at the start of this season that the Europa League was there for the taking.
In the first year without any Champions League dropping down for the knockouts, the two Premier League clubs were the two favourites to go all the way — and go all the way is exactly what they have done.
Bilbao has been a sea of white and red over the last 24 hours and that sea will only grow more vast as today goes on.
Over the next hour or so, we'll look at how both teams made it to the Europa League final.
Talk about trophies has become a stick with which to beat Tottenham in the last 10 or 15 years. They have won just one trophy since the turn of the 21st century and their last European triumph was in this competition 41 years ago.
The League Cup is the last one that was lifted by a Spurs captain and Ledley King was the man with that privilege back in February 2008.
As for United, trophies have still flowed domestically and in Europe despite their Premier League fall from grace since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Their last trophy was last season, when they beat Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup final.
Victory in that gave them their place in this season's Europa League, which they might be about to use for a place in the Champions League.
Work smarter, not harder... or something.
Yes!
While there is a whole generation of fans who have never seen their favourite players lift a trophy, Tottenham used to be a team that was pretty good at winning things, believe it or not.
And the Europa League is one of the trophies they have lifted more than once.
They beat Wolverhampton Wanderers over two legs to win it in 1972 and beat Anderlecht on penalties 12 years later in 1984, both when it was still called the UEFA Cup.
Manchester United won it a lot more recently, under Jose Mourinho, beating Ajax 2-0 in the final. They also reached the final four years ago but were beaten 11-10 in a mammoth penalty shootout by Villarreal.
With the introduction of the Europa Conference League back in 2021, there are three major European trophies on offer nowadays.
Although 'major' might be too strong a description for the one Chelsea are playing for in a week's time. This is the first of the three before the big one takes centre stage in a week and a half's time.
All of these, of course, will be covered live on The Athletic .
Today Europa League final: Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United
Wednesday, May 28 Europa Conference League final: Real Betis vs Chelsea
Saturday, May 31 Champions League final: Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter
San Mames, Bilbao
What a host venue this is for a European final.
The stadium, Athletic Club's San Mames, is a belter and holds in excess of 50,000 fans and the city, Bilbao, is one of Europe's best.
Located on Spain's northern coast, it is the biggest city in the Basque Country and a place primed to host one of UEFA's showpiece events.
Athletic Club were hopeful of getting to this final in their own stadium, but Manchester United eliminated them in the semi-final, so Ruben Amorim and Co are back for a second time.
This time of year is such a busy one across a multitude of sports.
The trophies are being given out in Europe in what remains of the football season, it is Conference Finals time in the NBA, and we are in the middle of major championship season in the golf.
For industry-leading coverage of all that and so much more — make sure you're tuned into The Athletic .
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