As Tottenham Hotspur fans cried in Bilbao on Wednesday night, a few days after Wembley witnessed tears of joy from Crystal Palace, it was a timely reminder of just how moving the game can really be. This is what it's supposed to be about, where success isn't just enjoyed by the same clubs all the time. The Premier League won't quite reach such levels of emotion for its final day on Sunday but there is much more to it than expected, which says a bit about the season. | |
| | Written by Miguel Delaney |
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| | Waves from Bilbao continue to come | For a competition English clubs used to dismiss, the fallout from the Europa League final may the biggest for any major game in some time. There's duly a lot to read. Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have considerable decisions to make, in different ways. Ange Postecoglou's grand riposte, his future, and that telling line from Daniel Levy, are discussed here. Manchester United, Ruben Amorim and the equation that club must solve, are discussed here. | | |
| | Five into three for one day with a difference | It isn't exactly 1995 or 2012, but this final day of the Premier League is distinctive. There have never been so many clubs going for Champions League places. That tells us a bit about the season, as well as the very competition they're trying to reach, all of which is discussed here. | | |
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| | The main reason for Spurs' win, and what next | It was written in The Independent on the eve of the Europa League final that Tottenham Hotspur were unusually confident, and that wasn't just vibes, or something vindicated after victory. They had real logical reasons for it, as relayed before the game by Ange Postecoglou's assistant, Mile Jedinak. He was at Wembley on Saturday watching his old team, Crystal Palace, and willingly telling former teammates that Spurs felt they would win. A key part was having certain players back fully fit, but also how they were perfect for the gameplan that Postecoglou and his staff had come up with. A theme of Spurs' Europa League run was Jose Mourinho-like tailored gameplans, and you couldn't have had a better example than the final. Tottenham felt that an open game would suit Manchester United, but if you keep it compact they struggle to break teams down, given where Ruben Amorim's side are in their development right now. Ange-ball it wasn't, and his pragmatism bore fruit. Regarding the manager's future, no firm decision had actually been taken on that as of Friday morning. He is still expected to go, but the word is that even Postecoglou himself feels there is around "a 5 per cent chance of staying". Spurs are ramping up interest in Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, and that very Europa League final win makes them more attractive as a destination than Manchester United. | | |
| | United now have very different concerns | On the other side, you could really see the sense utter embarrassment at Manchester United. This was the true meaning beyond the Champions League or PSR. The club was hurting. There is some resolve. They are doubling down on Ruben Amorim, and pressing ahead with transfers for Mateus Cunha and Liam Delap. The feeling is they just need to get goals going in again. On that, one rumour is floating around that all parties may be interested in a deal for Manchester City's Jack Grealish. It's currently hard to see as anything more than an idea. They can also probably forget a move for Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo unless they make significant sales. Bruno Fernandes does have a near-£100m offer from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, since January. They are apparently one of 10 interested clubs. United are now in a position where they have to consider this, as well so much more. | | |
| I write to you from Bilbao, where I still am until Friday night due to some of the logistical issues around this Europa League final. Many fans are the same, as it was too difficult to get flights on Thursday. A lot of United and Spurs singing could be heard around the city into early Friday morning. There are worse places to be but this still hasn't been the best from Uefa. The city is great and the stadium is superb, but there were recurring issues from previous showpieces. Fans complained of 200-person long queues just to buy water, and insufficient crowd management in some places. After the game, some fans looking to get to other cities for travel connections found there weren't enough routes, or available taxis or buses. It was nowhere near as bad as some previous finals but it was obviously still an issue. In terms of being at the event itself, most of the focus was on Postecoglou, especially with his notable pre-game press conference. The truth is that his relationship with the pack who regularly cover Spurs is actually good, as seen with his sheer magnanimity after the game. He was even applauded in. |
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| | Cristian Romero may have got the official man of the match but, for me, the stand-out player in the Europa League final was Micky van de Ven. The game might have been roundly criticised for being low on quality, but you couldn't say that of the Dutch centre-half. His defending was supreme, right up to that clearance on the line that clinched the trophy. Special mentions to Dean Henderson, Eberechi Eze and Daniel Munoz almost a week on. |
| | This can only be for Champions League qualification. I'm going for Man City, Newcastle United and – just about – Chelsea. I think they will beat Nottingham Forest to pip Aston Villa but it will be tense. | Every week I'll make one prediction or talking point for the week. Feel free to email in with thoughts. | |
| Given the theme of the last few weeks has been clubs ending silverware droughts: seven clubs have played at least one season in the Premier League since 1992, but never won a major trophy in their entire history. That description only applies to the league, FA Cup, League Cup or European trophy. Name the seven.
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