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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will clash in Bilbao on Wednesday in a high-stakes Europa League final that could rescue their disastrous seasons and open the gates to Champions League football — and a windfall worth over £100 million.
The match, held at Athletic Bilbao’s iconic San Mames Stadium, pits two of the Premier League’s biggest underachievers against each other. United and Spurs have recorded a combined 39 league defeats this season, with United languishing in 16th place and Tottenham just one position above the drop zone.
But despite their domestic woes, both sides are one win away from a major European trophy and the lucrative promise of Champions League qualification, which could ease financial pressures and shift the narrative around their troubled campaigns.
United boss Ruben Amorim, who is enduring a difficult first season at Old Trafford, admitted that while a Europa League win won’t solve the club’s deep-rooted issues, it would certainly lift the mood.
“We have bigger things to deal with, to put this club back to the top,” said Amorim. “But winning a European title changes how people see you — it matters.”
Though he insisted that Champions League funds aren’t essential for a club of United’s size, football finance expert Kieran Maguire labelled the final “the most important match in the club’s history” in financial terms, citing the significant revenue boost a win would bring.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou may be on borrowed time, regardless of the outcome. Many believe the Australian’s position is precarious, despite the chance to end the club’s 17-year trophy drought.
“Nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport,” Postecoglou said ahead of the final, hinting at the uncertainty surrounding his future. He also acknowledged the psychological weight on the team, saying that winning could silence critics who accuse Spurs of buckling on the big stage.
The North London club last won the Europa League, then known as the UEFA Cup, in 1984. A win now could represent a pivotal shift for a side eager to return to relevance.
This marks the sixth all-English final in European football history, and the encounter is expected to be tightly contested. Spurs have had the upper hand in domestic meetings this season, beating United three times. But United’s experience in big games — including back-to-back domestic trophies under Erik ten Hag in recent seasons — could give them the edge.
United captain Bruno Fernandes and veteran midfielder Casemiro, a five-time Champions League winner, are expected to lead the charge, while Tottenham face injury concerns. Postecoglou confirmed midfielder Lucas Bergvall is out, along with key players James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
Despite their woeful league form — both sides have only beaten relegation-bound opponents or each other since early February — their Europa League runs have been impressive. United reached the final with a dominant 7-1 aggregate win over hosts Athletic Bilbao, while Spurs comfortably dispatched Bodo/Glimt 5-1.
Victory in Bilbao won’t erase the damage done domestically, but it will offer salvation — both financially and emotionally — for whichever side lifts the trophy.
