Manchester United and Tottenham in the final for a 100 % English confrontation

The London club of Arsenal failed-by the fault of Paris Saint-Germain-to join the final of the Champions League, but English football caught up the next day, Thursday, May 8, by placing two clubs in the Europa League final: Manchester United and Tottenham will compete on May 21, in Bilbao (Spain), to succeed at the Atalanta Bergame, This C3 in 2024.

The poster for this final is in accordance with the highlights in the first legs of the first leg of the semi-finals: the Red Devils again dominated the Athletic Bilbao by winning, Thursday evening, 4 goals 1 at home (3-0 on the outward journey), and the Spurs went to win with the Norwegians of Bodo Glimt 2 to 0 (3-1 on the outward).

It will be the second 100 % English final in the history of the Europa League (former UEFA cup) after that won by Chelsea against Arsenal in 2019, and it will oppose two clubs which will not be their first: Tottenham has already played three finals (two titles in 1972 and 1984) and Manchester United two (a title in 2017).

Save your season

The two clubs, which respectively point to a glorious 15^e and 16^e Premier League places, give themselves a last chance to save a failed season. The stake is still enhanced by the precious ticket for the next Champions League offered to the winner.

The Red Devils had already broken the Basques’ dreams to play the final in front of their public in San Mamés by winning largely outside last week. Although dominated during three-quarters of the match on Thursday, they further exploded the Athletic, at the end, thanks to goals from Mason Mount (71^e90 + 1), Casemiro (79^e) and Höjlund (85^e), under the eyes of the former emblematic coach of the club, Sir Alex Ferguson. Deprived of their best offensive weapons, the Williams brothers, injured, the Basques had still brought a semblance of suspense to life by opening the scoring by Mikel Jauregiz in first half (31^e).

After winning the England Cup in 2024 and the English League Cup in 2023, Manchester United could experience a third time in a row concluded by the conquest of a trophy.

“If we do not win the final, all this will mean nothing for us”, said Mancunian coach Ruben Amorim. “It’s hard to describe what it is to be a manager of this club. We want to offer something [aux supporters],, Because we were very disappointing in the Premier League ”, Added the Portuguese technician who had a delicate season – 12 defeats in 24 championship games – after replacing on the bench Erik Ten Hag, dismissed in October.

Tottenham winner of the three duels of the season

At the same time Thursday evening in Bodo, beyond the polar circle, the surprise team of the competition has never been able to believe in the feat on its synthetic lawn of the Aspmyra Stadion. With their two goals ahead of the outward journey, Tottenham players first resisted the scattered attempts by the Norwegians before carrying the estocade in two stages shortly after the hour, first on a prolonged corner of the head by Romero and resumed victoriously by Dominic Solanke (63^e) then, seven minutes later, by Pedro Porro whose center-shit hit the head with the help of the opposite post.

“It’s an incredible feeling”, said Spurs defender Micky Van de Ven. “We have had a difficult season, but we are in a match to win a trophy”launched the Dutch player. The last trophy gleaned by Tottenham dates from 2008, when the London club had won the English League Cup.

This duel between Manchester United and Tottenham will be the fourth of the season: the Spurs have won the three confrontations, twice in the league and once in the League Cup.

Betis Seville qualifies in overtime

The Premier League will also have a chance to win another European Cup since Chelsea qualified on Thursday evening for the final of the League Conference at the expense of the Swedish Djurgarden. At home, the Blues were satisfied with a victory 1 to 0 thanks to a goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, after having gave up Stockholm in the first week (4-1).

The London club will face the Betis Seville in the final which obtained its ticket thanks to the equalizing goal of Ez Abde during the extension (97^e) Faced with Fiorentina (2-2). Beaten in Andalusia 2 to 1, the Italian club had been late at the end of regulation time with a double from Gosens (34^e42^e) against a goal from Antony (30^e) for the Sevillans, who finally had the last word.

The winner of the final, disputed on May 28 in Wroclaw (Poland), will succeed Olympiakos who had won, in 2024, the first European title of a Greek club, against Fiorentina, decidedly unhappy in this competition.