Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United: Italy stars end trophy curse
Italy internationals Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie have won the Europa League trophy with Tottenham, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Final in Bilbao, also qualifying for the Champions League.
Time to unpin this 🥲 Well done @SpursOfficial, treat it well! 🏆
…and big congrats to our former players Romero and Kulusevski 👏 https://t.co/eLDeKLsn10
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) May 21, 2025
Atalanta had won the tournament a year ago with a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and have been followed by Spurs, ending their incredibly long wait for a trophy, which in Europe was back in 1984.
BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 21: Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team's first goal past Andre Onana of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by)
There were two Azzurri in the starting XI for Spurs, as Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie lined up with former Serie A players Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur. The Reds were packed with ex-Italian football stars too, including Andre Onana, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu, Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo.
BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 21: Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur reacts towards Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by)
The deadlock was broken just before half-time when Brennan Johnson came sliding in at the near post to meet a Pape Sarr cross, bundled it onto Luke Shaw and the ricochet surprised Onana from point-blank range.
FIRST BLOOD SPURS! ⚽️
It's scrappy but they won't care! Brennan Johnson claims it as he takes full advantage of carnage in the box to put Spurs ahead in the Europa League Final 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/l5Jg9BgYgr
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2025
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Manchester United thought they had equalised on 68 minutes when Vicario fumbled a free kick after crashing into his own teammate, so ex-Atalanta striker Hojlund nodded it towards an empty net, only to be denied by a spectacular and acrobatic Micky van de Ven goal-line clearance.
BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 21: Leny Yoro of Manchester United stretches to meet a crossed ball with Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by)
Bruno Fernandes turned a free diving header wide, while Vicario got down to push away the Alejandro Garnacho angled drive.
Man Utd are piling on the pressure now, and it's the sub Garnacho who cuts in and his shot is brilliantly turned round the post by Vicario 🧤
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2025
Vicario made a fantastic save deep into stoppages to deny Shaw's header, palming it off the line to secure the silverware.
Is that it for Man Utd?!
Vicario brilliantly keeps out Shaw's header and then Casemiro's acrobatic effort hits the side netting! 🤯
Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United
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Ironically, Wells was Fulham's assistant manager when they beat Frank's Brentford in the 2020 Championship play-off final. Haslam is one of Frank's most trusted allies. He spent over a decade at Brentford across two different spells and was there for the entirety of Frank's reign. Haslam's role covered physical performance and sports science. He would be in constant communication with Frank on a match day and suggested substitutions. He often acted as a liaison between Frank and the fourth official. He also worked with Denmark at last summer's European Championship. Newton was in Tranmere Rovers' academy before being released and studying for a sports science degree at Wrexham University. During his time at university, he was registered in Wrexham's squad but spent time out on loan with non-League sides Colwyn Bay, Witton Albion and Newtown AFC. He completed a Master's degree in performance analysis at the University of Chester and worked for Welsh top-flight side The New Saints. He joined Brentford as a first-team analyst in September 2019, early in Frank's first full season in charge. He sits in the stands on a matchday and will debrief on how the team performed afterwards. He would sometimes be accompanied in the stands by Cochrane. They would be tasked with spotting anything the opposition team are doing which is different to what they expected. Georgson spent last year as Manchester United's set-piece coach, a role he previously held at Southampton, Arsenal and Brentford. He worked at Brentford during the 2019-20 season when they finished third in the Championship and lost the play-off final, before he was recruited by Arsenal. He also spent a year as technical director of Swedish side Malmo. Advertisement Spurs did not have a specialist set-piece coach last season but Nick Montgomery could often be seen giving players instructions from the touchline at corners and free kicks. Frank refers to his coaching staff as his 'SWAT team'. It is a bonus that he has been able to bring three people with him from Brentford and another former colleague in Georgson. He faces a huge challenge at Spurs but has surrounded himself with a strong group of assistants. Top photo:
