Europa League live: Final! Man United and Tottenham battle for Champions League spot

When the Europa League was still called the UEFA Cup, Franz Beckenbauer once mocked the competition as the "Losers' Cup." Looking at this year's final, the description is quite fitting. Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester United , the 17th-placed team in the Premier League facing the 16th-placed team. For both clubs, the final in Bilbao is their last chance to put a positive spin on a completely disastrous season.

Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane , who hopes his Spurs win the title, also recalls this. "It's been a difficult season for them for many reasons, but they have a chance to achieve one of the best seasons in recent history," Kane told the BBC, adding, referring to his title-less years at Tottenham: "In my time, we had some good moments, but we never finished the job. They have a chance now. What an opportunity."

Especially since the Europa League title also means qualification for the Champions League. "It's very important for us, a huge deal, and we absolutely want to give the title to our fans," said Man United coach Ruben Amorim on the club website of the 2017 Europa League winners. "I have mixed feelings. I'm very happy, but at the same time, I'm aware of my responsibility as Manchester United coach."

For the Portuguese, who took over in November 2024, his first season in Manchester was disastrous. Amorim was responsible for the worst start by a United manager in over 100 years. Some fans lost patience with him. "The frustration about the season is still there," the coach admitted, "which is why I want to win the final with the team even more."

While Amorim can still be credited with taking over at Man United just a few months into the season, coach Ange Postecoglou's credit among Tottenham fans has faded after almost two years. The Australian, who likes to point out that he always won something in his second season at his previous clubs, could probably save his job with this.

However, trophy collectors like José Mourinho and Antonio Conte have already failed in their attempt to win silverware with Spurs, who knocked Frankfurt out . The club is ridiculed on the island for its chronic lack of a title. Its last major success was in the 1991 FA Cup. Even the unimportant League Cup was 17 years ago. A Europa League triumph would be celebrated at Tottenham like a league title.

In addition to boosting their image and self-confidence, winning the Europa League brings tens of millions in prize money and—more importantly—a spot in the much more lucrative premier class next season. Manchester United and Tottenham fell far short of qualifying for the Champions League via the league.

To say they didn't live up to their expectations is putting it mildly. 39 and 38 points, respectively, after 37 matchdays is a disgrace, even though both have suffered a lot of injury misfortune. Man United have lost 18 games, and Spurs have lost 21. The fact that the two teams in the table were never seriously in danger of relegation is solely due to the fact that the three promoted teams—now all relegated—weren't competitive.