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Brennan Johnson’s scrappy late first-half goal secured Tottenham Hotspur a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday, ending the north London club’s 17-year wait for silverware. The win not only brings Spurs their first European trophy since 1984 but also guarantees them a place in next season’s Champions League — a stark contrast to Manchester United, who will miss out on Europe’s premier club competition for only the second time in 35 years.
Despite the triumph, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou’s position remains uncertain after a turbulent domestic campaign that has left his team languishing just below United in the Premier League’s relegation-threatened zone. The Australian coach insisted on the eve of the final that he was “not a clown,” and his side delivered under pressure at San Mamés, vindicating his claim of always winning a trophy in his second season at a club.
Winger Johnson expressed the emotional significance of the victory, telling TNT Sports, “This club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years, honestly, this is what it means, it means so much. Ever since I came here it’s been ‘Tottenham are a good team, but they never get it done’ — we got it done!”
The final was played in front of a passionate crowd at Athletic Bilbao’s stadium, many of whom endured long and costly journeys to witness the event. The match itself, however, lacked quality, reflecting the struggles both sides have faced in the league — Tottenham and United sitting 16th and 17th respectively after disappointing Premier League seasons.
The game was marked by frantic defending, frequent turnovers, and a low confidence level from both teams. Early on, United’s Amad Diallo showed glimpses of promise, but the breakthrough came just before half-time through a chaotic goal. Tottenham midfielder Sarr, having only completed one pass, sent in a cross that bounced off Luke Shaw’s shoulder and Johnson’s boot before slowly crossing the line beyond a helpless Andre Onana.
Spurs adopted a more defensive posture in the second half, seeking to protect their narrow lead and launch counter-attacks, although they managed only 27 percent possession and three shots — just one on target.
Manchester United came close to an equaliser when Guglielmo Vicario failed to secure a set-piece, but Micky van de Ven made a spectacular clearance to deny Rasmus Hojlund’s header. Late substitutions, including Spurs captain Son Heung-min and United defender Harry Maguire pushed forward, failed to change the scoreline.
The defeat marked United’s 21st loss of the season and their fourth against Spurs, who lifted their third Europa League trophy. Manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the club’s ongoing challenges, saying, “We managed not to score again, that makes it hard to win matches.”
With no European football next season, the pressure intensifies on United, while Spurs’ win injects a rare moment of joy into an otherwise difficult campaign.
“For a club like Manchester United, it’s nowhere near good enough,” Shaw admitted after the final whistle.
