Fans of two Premier League sides converge in Kochi for Europa League final screening
For the fans of the English Premier League giants Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the pre-dawn (Indian Standard Time) UEFA Europa League final to be played between their sides at the picturesque San Mamés stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on Thursday is not about laying claim to bragging rights but to salvage what little pride from a disastrous domestic season where the teams are now placed 16th and 17th respectively in the 20-side Premier League.
So, the fans are on the edge as they wait with baited breath for the match, which will be screened by the two sets of fans at two different cafes. The screening for the Manchester United fans under the aegis of the Manchester United Supporters Club Kerala will be held at Ravipuram and the Tottenham fans will assemble under the banner Kerala Spurs at Kakkanad. Both the fans clubs are recognised by their parent clubs.
Narendar Ananda Bhat, a die-hard Manchester United fan, was a bundle of nerves all through the day hardly ably to sit still. 'For me, winning this match presents the only opportunity for the team to lay the foundation to do better in the next season since the victors will automatically qualify for the elite Champions League next year. Being in the Champions League is critical for the team to bring in quality players in the summer transfer market and to do better next season. Considering we had one of the worst ever season means that lifting the trophy will be a relief,' he said.
Though they notched up more defeats than victories in the English Premier League this season, Manchester United had a dream undefeated run in the Europa League.
The situation is only far worse for the fans of Tottenham, with a bare trophy cabinet since 2008. 'We have been watching even lower-level teams winning silverware during the period even as we kept throwing away the opportunities. This is a do-or-die situation for our team. Being such a loyal servant of the club for long, the team owes it to our captain Son Heung-min to help him lift a trophy during his time here,' said Sivasankar S. of Kerala Spurs.
When the match is over in the early morning hours of Thursday, only one set of fans will go home with victory chants, leaving the dreams of the other shattered.
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