Manchester United and Tottenham are on a collision course for a Europa League final that could define their turbulent seasons and rescue lost pride
Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s first-leg victory over Athletic Bilbao was ‘absolutely perfect’ and a potential Europa League final against Tottenham would be ‘very special.’
Ruben Amorim’s side sit 15th in the Premier League having not won a league game since their 3-0 victory over relegated Leicester back in March. In fact, they have only won two games since that victory, but both could be season-defining: the comeback against Lyon and the first-leg win over Bilbao
United are only two points off 17th placed West Ham, one position above the relegation zone. However, they are also only two games away from winning the Europa League and securing Champions League football next season.
Amorim has certainly had a tough first stint as United manager, but to end his first season at the club with a European trophy would be an impressive feat. After the first-legs of the Europa League semi-finals, it looks increasingly likely that United will face struggling Tottenham in the final with both teams needing silverware to save their season. United legend Neville believes it will be a very special event.
He told NBC Sports Soccer: “I was sort of thinking with United, and with Tottenham to an extent but I thought Tottenham would beat their opponent, I just wondered whether it was a dangerous tactic [that] they’ve almost forgotten about the Premier League, their form is getting worse and worse as the weeks go by, it’s becoming more painful watching them at weekends, and putting all their eggs in one basket and saying ‘ we’ve got to win this Europa League we’ve got to get Champions League football next season’ which obviously winning the Europa League would give these two teams.
“But it seems like it’s paying off for them and I was amazed at United’s victory in Bilbao on Thursday evening, I watched that game. I thought it would be a really tough game. Bilbao have got a fantastic team, they’re having a good season, they’ve got a great manager, but the way in which the game panned out for United was absolutely perfect and it’s looking now like it’s going to be a very special final – Manchester United and Tottenham.
“I did actually say a couple of months ago that I wanted Tottenham to win a trophy this season if Manchester United didn’t. Well that’s likely to happen now, obviously I’d want Manchester United to win the final. But the form of the two teams in the league has been awful.
“Obviously Ruben Amorim’s is getting a little bit less criticism because he’s not been at the club as long [and] Ange Postecoglou is getting criticism every single week to the point where Spurs fans are giving him a hard time. But getting to a final is very special for Tottenham, very special for Manchester United and that’ll be an amazing event in that game.”
Both United and Spurs are in second-leg action tonight, each hoping to book a place in the May 21 final.