The Independent
·22 May 2025
Tottenham end trophy drought in Europa League final as Ruben Amorim admits Man United sack is possible - reaction

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·22 May 2025
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Spurs snatch narrow win over Man Utd in dismal Europa League final
Tottenham Hotspur salvaged their season and delivered vindication for Ange Postecoglou as they defeated Manchester United 1-0 in a dismal Europa League final in Bilbao to claim a first trophy in 17 years.
United and Spurs showed exactly why they lie 16th and 17th in the Premier League table as they produced a low-quality affair and the only goal of the game reflected that perfectly. Just before the break, a combination of Brennan Johnson and Luke Shaw contrived to bundle the ball into the corner of the net.
Spurs required a spectacular goal-line clearance from defender Micky van de Ven as they defended doggedly in the second half, with the result delighting boss Postecoglou who said he always believed Tottenham would live up to his claim of “always winning a trophy in his second season”.
United, meanwhile, face a difficult rebuild with no Champions League football to finances their summer transfer plans. Ruben Amorim admitted afterwards that he would not ask for compensation if United decide to go in a different direction, but he vowed not to quit despite United’s worst season in 50 years.
Big Ange Postecoglou was not for turning. Or so we thought.
High lines. Front foot football. Almost all out attack. It brought Tottenham Hotspur some thrilling victories in the early days of Angeball. Since teams worked out how to counter it, however, results have taken a dramatic downturn.
Ruben Amorim took a similar hardline stance when he arrived on our shores, but since then a clear trend has developed. It was music to new Manchester United overlords Ineos’ ears – after years of directionless travel under Erik ten Hag, someone was willing to come in and instil a philosophy, an identity, on the club.
The Portuguese coach refuses to adapt from his principles but Pete Hall argues that his Manchester United future may depend on taking a leaf out of Ange Postecoglou’s journey en route to legacy-defining Europa League glory
Pete Hall22 May 2025 17:27
The manager was asked that question after the game and he was short in his reply.
He said: “If yesterday was not the moment [to talk about what needs to change at Man Utd] imagine this moment.
“This moment is not to talk about, it is to give space to the winners and deal with the pain of losing this match.
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