{"id":1384127,"date":"2025-05-21T09:29:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1384127"},"modified":"2025-05-21T09:29:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:29:34","slug":"tactical-aspects-could-decide-europa-league-final-tottenham-man-utd","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-aspects-could-decide-europa-league-final-tottenham-man-utd\/","title":{"rendered":"Two tactical aspects that could decide the 2025 Europa League Final"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An all-English final awaits in the Europa League<\/a> as Manchester <\/a>United<\/a> and Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> are set to face off for the fourth time this season.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tottenham have won all three games they\u2019ve played against Man Utd in 2024-25, mostly in dominant fashion. The 4-3 thriller in the Carabao Cup was only that close due to Fraser Forster\u2019s howlers with the ball at his feet. And the 3-0 away win was already heavily favoured towards Spurs even when the Red Devils still had 11 men and the scoreline was just 1-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That leaves the last encounter, three months ago, as the only true even affair between the clubs — and perhaps the most reliable in order to try and extract information to preview the Europa League Final. Here are two key factors that could tip the scales one way or the other.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Man Utd’s long passes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Ruben Amorim\u2019s side rely heavily on long-distance passing, not always prioritising the maintenance of possession. They rank first in long balls attempted among all Premier League<\/a> teams in all competitions this season (2,853). Long balls are useful for a number of things, whether that\u2019s to break the opposing line and get forwards through on goal, or just as a \u201cshortcut\u201d to reach the attacking half of the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Red Devils actually generated a lot of danger early in their last game against Tottenham, finding Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho in space several times. That could be a useful weapon, considering the talent and range from Bruno Fernandes and how well their centre-backs have distributed the ball this campaign – especially against Lyon in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    If Ange Postecoglou plays his usual style with a high defensive line, Tottenham will be susceptible to facing runs in behind from Man Utd players — and that would match Amorim\u2019s style of play. However, the Australian manager has toned this down lately, even at home, sitting deeper and offering possession to the opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That has led to surprisingly safe games from Tottenham in this recent Europa League stretch, suffering little against Bodo\/Glimt and Eintracht Frankfurt. In fact, Tottenham allowed just 28 shots in four legs against their quarter-final and semi-finals opponent combined (seven per game) — nearly half of their season average of shots faced (13.7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition, Tottenham\u2019s two lowest Expected Goals Conceded tallies in a game this season came precisely against Bodo\/Glimt (0.26 xGC) and Eintracht Frankfurt (0.36 xGC), both in the first legs. Maybe there is something to this new version of Angeball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n