At San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur face off in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday. For both clubs, lifting the trophy offers a lifeline after rocky domestic campaigns.
Manchester United sit 16th in the Premier League after losing 18 of their 37 matches this season. Tottenham sit just one point behind in 17th. With relegation fears looming, the Europa League represents both sides' last chance to turn around disappointing campaigns.
'Of course, we have to believe,' said United coach Ruben Amorim. 'I am really confident. I feel that my players are ready for this game. They know what it means, not just for us but for our fans and for the club. After this season, we are ready to fight for the one thing that can help us remember this season in a different way.'
The clubs have met 67 times, with United undefeated in 53 of those encounters, including 40 wins. Yet this season, Spurs have had the edge, beating United in all three meetings – two in the Premier League and one in the EFL Cup. United, who haven’t won in their last eight outings, face a tough test against a Spurs side that has lost five of its last six games.
Off the pitch, Tottenham are poised to announce the return of Fabio Paratici as sporting director and plan to part ways with manager Ange Postecoglou regardless of the final’s outcome. As Wednesday’s showdown approaches, both clubs will need tactical grit, mental resilience and a touch of magic to lift Europe’s second-tier crown and rewrite their season narratives.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
