New Delhi: What happens when two teams who have fared miserably, well below expectations and capability in a league campaign, meet in a European final?
Only Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton – the relegated trio – sit above Manchester United (16th) and Tottenham Hotspur (17th), the finalists of the Europa League 2024-25.
Remarkably, it is the first time a European final has been played between two teams so out of form.
The winners of today’s final in Bilbao will be the lowest league finishers ever to win a European crown and the lowest to ever qualify for the European Cup or Champions League.
United and Spurs have been so bad this season that their points total could have had them dropped to the second division in several previous seasons.
An embarrassing position to be in for the most successful club in English football history and the best-run club in the Premier League, the Europa League presents a golden opportunity for both clubs to save themselves from total embarrassment and salvage pride from a horrendous season.
For this reason, the fight for the title will be more than glory and supremacy. It will be a scramble to save the season. A chance to put smiles back on the faces of fans. And build momentum for the next campaign.
“I can’t remember such a game which was so highly pressurised for both teams,” ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.
The 2024-25 Europa League final is more than just a European final. It is a stage to secure the future and restore the historic past.
Why Champions League qualification is crucial?
The title clash is not just about reputation and salvation. It is also about the riches of the Champions League.
United’s deficit of £113m last year added to their financial woes, taking their total losses to £300m over the past three years. Meanwhile, Spurs, the best-run club in the country, recorded an annual loss of £26m last year.
While gaining a place in the new format of the Champions League will be equally beneficial for both, United arguably need it more because of their dwindling financial structure.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained the significance of securing Champions League football.
“Financially, it’s the most important match in the club’s history,” Maguire told the BBC.
“Champions League participation is crucial because it could generate over £100m from tickets, broadcast money, and sponsor bonuses.”
Moreover, the lure of top-tier European football is still a big factor for top players while choosing clubs.
A ticket to the Champions League would open a much-needed financial stream for United to invest in players in the summer transfer window. The additional revenue will put the club in a good position in a bid to reboot. Europa League is no Champions League, as United, the three-time UCL champions, would attest.
A season of redemption
But the Europa League title could be a defining moment in the club’s history, for it could spark a new era for Ruben Amorim’s United, much like Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils of 1991, who defeated Barcelona to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup to mark the beginning of a new era of success under Ferguson.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has flattered to deceive in his second season in charge of the North London club. Some might argue that United have endured a worse season than Spurs, but it’s also a fact that United are in a season of transition, having changed managers midway through the season.
Spurs, on the other hand, have witnessed a steep decline after Postecoglou’s impressive first season in charge, in which Spurs finished fifth. But it’s remarkable how a team set up to compete for the title and for Champions League qualification is on the verge of finishing one place above the relegation zone.
The Europa title would not just end a 17-year wait for a major trophy, but could also ignite a spark, a belief in the team’s ability to win the titles.
But United, with a rich pedigree of winning titles, including European finals, would back themselves to trump Spurs, whose last final appearance in a European final ended in a 2-0 defeat to fellow Premier League side Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League.
Beyond the trophy: The impact of Europa League victory
The 2021 Europa League final defeat to Villarreal will add as an extra motivation for United, who are eyeing their sixth major European trophy, with, ironically, the last continental title also coming in the 2016-17 Europa League.
While the heritage and history give United a slight edge, their form in the tournament paints a worrying stat for the Spurs fanbase.
Starting from the FA Cup win last year, which helped United clinch the Europa League spot, the Red Devils have gone unbeaten in 20 matches to reach the final, scoring at least one goal in every match.
While their performances in the Premier League have been shambolic, the Europa League has witnessed shades of old United in some matches, including the astonishing comeback win against Lyon in the quarterfinal.
On Thursday, one set of players will wake up with a much-needed sense of hope, while the other will have what-if thoughts.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, two underperforming Premier League giants, face off in the 2024-25 Europa League final. This unprecedented matchup pits two teams who finished well below expectations against each other, with the winner securing Champions League qualification and vital financial relief. The match represents a chance for both clubs to salvage their seasons, restore fan confidence, and reignite their pursuit of major trophies. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
