United and Spurs ready for Basque battle with eyes on both prizes
There was a time in the early 1980s when Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were the kingpins of the cup scene.
Barely a year past when either side weren't getting suited and booted down Saville Row, while tinkling the ivories alongside Chas 'N Dave, or hiding out with Herman's Hermits in Stockport's Strawberry Studios all for the Glory, Glory of Man United.
Ossie Ardiles, of course, had a dream back in 1981, and it was realised later that summer as Spurs beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup.
And despite the trembly knees that afflicted the gifted Argentinian throughout the latter stages of his career, he took the north London club back down Wembley Way the following summer as they made it a cup double, beating QPR for the 1982 trophy.
Back in 1983, United were more renowned for their rowdy travelling element, the players' post-training rituals, and a perma-tanned manager with a penchant for all things glittery.
Two FA Cup finals in three years for United as they beat Brighton in '83 and prevented Everton from winning the treble in '85 thanks to a Norman Whiteside wondergoal in a game remembered more, perhaps, for Kevin Moran becoming the first player to get a red card in the Wembley decider.
Tottenham would also take their cup credentials to the mainland – Europe that is – by beating Belgian side Anderlecht in the UEFA Cup final – Europa that is – in 1984.
By the time United were back winning FA Cups and adding a European Cup Winners Cup, things were changing up north amidst the Madchester scene, as Alex Ferguson was in the process of completing the greatest switcheroo in English football history, by turning a much-maligned cup side into the dominant team of the decade, while relegating the all-conquering Liverpool outfit into a squad of spice boys.
Ferguson has long left the building; with him, United's place at the top table of European football, and despite their best efforts, they are slowly but surely returning to the days of saving seasons off the back of a cup final celebration.
Spurs, despite a few decent runs of form in recent years, have largely remained the same throughout, and now remarkably both sides go into their final Premier League game of the season still shy of the magic relegation-avoiding 40-point mark.
Luckily for both, there are three teams in the league who are a lot worse, and Premier League football is already guaranteed for next season, yet somehow Spurs and United have battled their way through the attritional Europa League series all the way to the final.
It all takes place in Bilbao this evening as the two English sides will enjoy battle in the Basque Country with a lot more on offer than just an away day to remember and a chance of pocketing some silverware.
For a place in next season's Champions League is the real reward for slogging their way through this Europa campaign, and should United lose, it would be their first time missing out on a continental escapade since 2015.
So while adding to the trophy cabinet is not necessarily United's main motivation, Spurs could certainly do with a pick-me-up following a 17-year barren spell, since winning the League Cup back in 2008.
Both sides will, naturally, hope form goes out the window for this particular game, and they will be mainly cutting clips from the European exploits rather than their domestic delights.
And yet, it will all most likely result in a Premier League-style encounter, with both sides looking for a high-tempo approach in what should be an electric atmosphere at San Mamés Stadium.
United do have a strong squad to choose from – on paper at least – and they will be further buoyed by the fact that Joshua Zirkzee, Diogo Dalot and Leny Yoro are all back training. Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are both missing, however.
Spurs come into the game with three wins over United this season, which will certainly give them a major confidence boost, however, they have lost their last two games to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, which won't have helped preparations.
Based on the season that both sides have experienced, this game could take a while to ignite, and rather than players lighting up the occasion, it might well come down to which side makes the least number of mistakes.
So let's not expect too much in the entertainment stakes, with a scoreless bore draw after extra-time, at least, offering a thrilling penalty shoot-out.
But there is always hope that an early goal could spark this tie into life and create one of those seven-goal type thrillers to end the season with a bang for both sides, and offer some welcome respite before returning to the reality of the Premier League on Sunday in their quest to hit forty.
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