Tottenham Crowned Europa League Champions, Deepens Manchester United’s Nightmare Season
Tottenham Hotspur lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy after edging past Manchester United 1–0 in an all English final at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
The lone goal came just before halftime, as Senegalese midfielder Pape Sarr delivered a cross into the box that was met by Welshman Brennan Johnson at close range. His attempt deflected off defender Luke Shaw and into the net in the 42nd minute.
The victory not only secured Tottenham their first European title since winning the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) in 1984, but also guaranteed their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. It marks the club’s first major trophy in 17 years — their last coming in the 2008 League Cup final against Chelsea.
Remarkably, this was Tottenham’s fourth win over Manchester United across all competitions this season, further underlining the Red Devils’ dismal campaign. United currently sit 16th in the Premier League with just one match remaining — a staggering fall for one of England’s biggest clubs.
Speaking after the match, match-winner Brennan Johnson reflected on the magnitude of the moment: “This season hasn’t gone well for us overall, but I swear, none of us care about that right now,”. “The club hasn’t won anything in 17 years — that’s what this means. It means everything.”
Johnson, added: “Since I arrived, everyone’s said Tottenham is a good team that never finishes the job. Well, we finished it tonight.”
Amorim’s Future in Doubt
In the wake of the defeat, Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim stunned reporters by suggesting he might step down — depending on the wishes of the club hierarchy and supporters.
“If the board and the fans believe I’m not the right man for the job, I’ll leave the next day — no debate, no compensation,” said the Portuguese coach, who took over in November following the sacking of Erik ten Hag.
Amorim has won just six of his 23 Premier League matches in charge and now faces mounting pressure.
“I won’t resign on my own,” he clarified. “I believe in what I’m doing, and as you saw tonight, I’m not going to change my methods.”
He avoided making definitive statements about the club’s direction, saying: “Right now, we have to process this loss and the pain that comes with it. No doubt we were the better team tonight, but we couldn’t score — and when that happens, things get tough.”
With the result, Manchester United will miss out on European competition entirely next season — the first time that has happened since 2014–15.
Amorim acknowledged the setback: “It’s hard to imagine a club of Manchester United’s size missing out on the Champions League. But on the other hand, we’ll have more time to work during the week next season and improve our Premier League performances.”
