On Wednesday in Bilbao, Spain, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League final. This victory marks the Spurs’ first cup championship in 17 years.
Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio de San Mamés hosted the championship match. Following the full-time whistle, Tottenham fans and players were tearful as they celebrated what appeared to be the end of their protracted wait to win a major game. It was the first trophy for the club since 2008 and their first European championship since the 1983-84 season. Spurs had developed a reputation over the last ten years of approaching but not quite finishing the work. For the north London club and their supporters, this triumph seemed monumental.
The game began lethargically. In the first half, both sides battled to assert control or generate obvious opportunities. Tottenham’s midfielder Pape Sarr delivered a right-footed cross in the 42nd minute. The ball struck Luke Shaw of Manchester United before passing Spurs’ leading scorer before Brennan Johnson completed the action. Though it was a sloppy goal, it was sufficient to give Spurs the lead. Johnson’s goal had Tottenham supporters celebrating, but those from United remained muted.
Micky van de Ven was one of the pivotal figures in the second half. United’s Rasmus Højlund had a free header toward an open goal after Spurs goalie Guglielmo Vicario made a free-kick error. Van de Ven, however, did an aerial scissor-kick clearance to stop the ball in the 62nd minute. Vicario later made crucial saves against Luke Shaw and Alejandro Garnacho to guarantee the scoreless sheet.
Winning the Europa League guarantees Spurs entry to the Champions League next season. The victory qualifies them for Europe’s premier club tournament despite their dismal domestic record. At present, Tottenham are 17th in the Premier League rankings; United sit one place lower at 16th. Both teams have been league quite underperforming.
Brennan Johnson told TNT Sports 1 after the game, “I’m so happy right now. Honestly, this season has not been at all good; however, I swear that none of us players right now care about it… I am so happy.”
Ange Postecoglou, the Spurs’ head coach, had also forecast great outcome. He remarked in September, “I don’t often win anything… I always win something in my second year. Nothing has changed. He said following the victory, “I believe people misunderstood it. It was me making a statement, not really bragging.” He continued, “I know our league form has been awful—nowhere near acceptable and unacceptable—but us finishing third wasn’t going to alter this football club. Winning something would be the only thing that would alter this football club; when I said that, I meant it.”
For Spurs captain Son Heung-min, this title also celebrated a unique milestone. Tottenham highlighted that he was the first club captain from South Korea to guide a team to a significant European trophy.
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