Tottenham saved their season in Bilbao after beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final to claim their first silverware in 17 years.
Coming into the game, both teams’ domestic form encapsulated their performances this season. Neither side had scored in their last two matches – with their last goals coming in the Europa League semi-finals.
This competition had been a lifeline for Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou – their lighthouse, stranded in an ocean of dismal Premier League results. United were undefeated in Europe this season, while Spurs had also found solitude in the continental tournament.
But Amorim was far from bullish coming into the game; he repeatedly insisted that success in Bilbao would not “save” their season. With a chance to book their spot in the Champions League next season, victory tonight was a demand on the biggest household name in English football.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou had the chance to win Tottenham their first trophy since the Carabao Cup in 2008. For him tonight, it was win or bust; etch his name in the books as the hero who finally brought silverware back to N17, or the sorry individual who oversaw their worst season in recent history.
Indeed, it was Spurs who drew first blood at the San Mames. Pape Sarr’s cross was met by Brennan Johnson, who scrappily bundled the ball in with help from Luke Shaw to earn Spurs their first goal in five cup finals.
It was Johnson’s fifth goal in the Europa League, and 17th in all competitions this season – more than any other Tottenham player.
The north London club had not created a chance for the whole half, while United managed five. But as has been the case so often of late, the Red Devils failed to capitalise.
Across all competitions this season, United have conceded first in 31 games, more than any other Premier League team in 2024-25.
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The first 45 minutes saw a cagey approach from both sides. In the second 45, United treated Tottenham’s first-third like a cage they wanted to keep their opposition in. Amorim’s men held 80% of possession and did not allow Spurs a single shot as they searched for an equaliser.
They came closest to levelling when Rasmus Hojlund’s looping header towards an open net was spectacularly cleared off the line by a Micky Van de Ven bicycle kick.
Despite the centre-back’s heroics, the verdict was unanimous – United’s No 9 should have found the back of the net. It was the attempt of a man who had only scored three times for his club in five months. Minutes after, Hojlund was hooked fittingly.
United again came close to scoring twice in the next five minutes. They pushed and pushed. Luke Shaw came close with moments remaining, only for his header to be denied by Guglielmo Vicario, who made five saves and prevented 0.66 goals in the game.
And finally, with the cuticles of Spurs fans around the world chewed to the bone, the full-time whistle was blown.
Postecoglou insisted last September that he always wins things in his second season; and he kept his word in his 100th game in charge at Spurs.
To defend is to do. The 40 year-and-363 day-drought without a European trophy is over.