Manchester United will play Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English Europa League final, as both teams look to end a disastrous domestic season on a high.
The winner of this final not only – and unexpectedly, based on their horrendous bottom-five domestic form – takes home a European crown, but also punches their golden ticket for entry into next season’s lucrative UEFA Champions League, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in extra revenue.
Furthermore, they will earn the right to play against the winners of the 2024-25 Champions League in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13.
Never in the history of European competition has a final been played between two teams so out of form. The winners of Wednesday’s Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham in Bilbao could be the lowest league finishers ever to win a major European trophy.
Manchester United are in 16th place in the Premier League. The entire team has scored only 42 goals in 37 league games throughout the entire season.
“I always had this feeling of frustration for the season,” Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said Friday after his team’s 18th defeat of the Premier League season. The coach acknowledged that winning the Europa League on Wednesday wouldn’t compensate for the shocking performances all year. “Europa League is not enough,” he said.
Spurs are in 17th place in the Premier League. Spurs’ malfunctioning midfield and a slew of injuries haven’t helped their dismal league position. Their captain, Heung-min Son, has underwhelmed.
The South Korean star has failed to fill the goal vacuum left by England captain Harry Kane, who departed for Bayern Munich two seasons ago. Spurs have lost more than half of their games this season.
– Edwin Edgar Mutugi
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