This season’s UEFA Europa League — which features two of the Premier League‘s biggest clubs, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur — is a curious fixture.
Normally it would be billed as yet another example of the English league’s superior strength in depth compared to the rest of Europe’s major powers. But instead, the prematch narrative has been about how historically poor both teams have been at home this season. With one game of the domestic season remaining, these two teams sit in 16th and 17th place, right above the relegation places (which, lucky for them, have all already been confirmed).
And yet, either Ruben Amorim’s United or Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, with one non-European win between them since the start of April, will be in next season’s UEFA Champions League, by virtue of lifting the Europa League trophy at Bilbao’s San Mamés stadium on Wednesday.
Spurs have already beaten United three times this season — both home and away in the league, as well as winning a seven-goal thriller in the Carabao Cup — but those results amounted to little for them and pale in comparison to the outcome of a European final.
But which team has had the worst season? Which club, manager and set of players need to win this final the most? And, ultimately, who will win? ESPN writers James Olley and Rob Dawson, who will be covering the final, give their prematch thoughts.
