Europa League: What to Expect From An All-English Final

As expected, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have sailed through their respective semi-final ties. This means, for the first time since 2019, we have an all-English Europa League final. Back then, Chelsea piped London rivals Arsenal to win their second Europa League trophy. That same year, Spurs faced Liverpool in their first-ever Champions League final. Their fans won’t want to be reminded of the heartbreaking 2-0 loss they suffered at the hands, or rather feet, of Mohammed Salah and Co. 

Clearly, there’s much more at stake for both teams than just a trophy. Ange Postecoglou and his charges will be seeking to bury the ghost of 2019 as they return European glory to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. More importantly, they will be hoping to book a ticket to next season’s Champions League as they put a forgettable campaign behind them. Their opponents will be similarly motivated. Indifferent domestic form has seen them plummet to 15th on the EPL log. 

Winning the Europa League will bring Manchester United much-needed redemption and buy head coach Ruben Amorim time for a proper rebuild. “We need to win it. If we don’t win it, it means nothing for us,” the Portuguese manager admitted. Postecoglu would probably echo his counterpart’s words. His situation is perhaps a bit more precarious, having been on the job a year longer with precious little to show for it.    

Here’s what to expect from a finals clash with two sides so desperate to win.

Superiority Complex

Yesterday’s comfortable win at Old Trafford against an Athletic Bilbao strangely resigned to their fate (they’re the finals hosts) may lull Man U into a false sense of superiority. From his post-game comments, Amorim will be wrapping his key players in cotton wool for the remaining Premier League fixtures. Injuries have dogged the Red Devils through the season, robbing them of the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo at crucial spells in the season. 

Their manager’s desire to mollycoddle his players through the West Ham game this weekend and the away match to Chelsea FC is understandable. The players themselves won’t want to put their bodies on the line for dead rubber ties that do nothing meaningful for their league standing. But lowering the intensity of their play in the run-up to a major cup final might prove counterproductive.  

Ditto Spurs. The North London side has also coasted into the finals, besting their Norwegian opponents 5-1 in a one-sided semifinal tie. Though they played aggressively, the Lilywhites didn’t have to get out of second gear to secure a 2-0 win at the Aspmyra Stadion. Spurs’ three wins over United this season may lead Postecoglou and his squad to justifiably feel superior to the Mancunians.  

Between now and the Europa League final, Spurs have a London derby against Crystal Palace and an away game at Villa Park. Postecoglu, like Amorim, will be tempted to limit the exertions of his key players in these nothing fixtures, tough as the opposition may be. He is just receiving the likes of Richarlison, Cristian Romero, and Micky van der Ven from injury-enforced absences. He’ll want to forestall any more fitness setbacks before a major final. 

With both managers expected to approach their remaining league fixtures conservatively, one of two scenarios may play out. A turgid final in which both sides struggle to find any rhythm or intensity in their play. Or a lopsided contest in which one team comes out with all guns blazing, playing with an intensity their opponents are unable to live with

Lessons From The Past

Spurs fans may be loath to admit it, but history is on Man U’s side when it comes to European finals or cup finals in general. The Red Devils can go into the final in poor form and play badly, but still end up lifting the trophy. In 2016/2017, Manchester United joined the elite group of clubs that have won every European trophy when they lifted the Europa League cup. As gleefully as then-manager José Mourinho and his men celebrated that title, they had lived through a difficult season. They struggled to a sixth-place finish on the table.

History hasn’t been so kind to the Lilywhites. You have to go back 40 years if you’re wondering when Tottenham Hotspur last won any European honors. Domestically, they only have a League Cup trophy to show for all their on-field efforts and investments over the past 30 years. 

Players to Watch

Football is about what happens on the field over 90 minutes, history aside. One of the outcomes Postecoglu will relish from yesterday’s game in Bodø, besides the result, is that van der Ven and Romero completed the match. This is the first time in months that the Australians have had their first-choice center-back pairing. The impact was instant; a clean sheet and only two shots on target for FK Bodø/Glimt. Romero’s aerial ability created the chance, which Dominick Solanke tucked in to open the scoring yesterday.

While celebrating a strengthened backline, Postecoglou will curse his luck at his diminished offensive options. James Maddison, arguably his most creative player, is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. He will be forced to deploy Dejan Kulusevski in the ‘hole’ behind Solanke again, which is not the Swede’s most effective position. Spurs’ best chance to create scoring chances will therefore be from the flanks. 

Amorim will be delighted with Leny Yoro’s display yesterday and will hope the French teenager can play with the same swagger on the 21st. His purposeful runs into the opposition half unsettled Bilbao’s defense, creating space for the forwards. One of them resulted in Mount’s first goal. Amorim cheered the former Chelsea midfielder’s goals heartily from the touchline, happy to see the long-term absentee beginning to recapture his best form. 

He is one of the players the Red Devils will want to manage carefully to ensure he remains healthy enough for the final. Another, who also came on to good effect yesterday, was Amad Diallo. The Man U manager will need to decide between the Ivorian and Alejandro Garnacho to start on the right side of the attack. The Argentine was unable to provide a cutting edge the entire hour he spent scampering up and down the drenched pitch. But starting Diallo may rob the diminutive winger of his powers as an impact sub.      

Joy or Tears?

The first all-English Europa League final in six years will be a mouth-watering duel for fans of both teams as well as neutrals. Both teams have plenty riding on this one game- redemption, European glory, Champions League football, the chance to gloat over Arsenal, etc. Who will end that evening in tears? Who will end it in jubilation? Time will tell.