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Brennan Johnson's scrambled goal ended Tottenham Hotspur’s 17-year trophy drought with a gritty 1-0 win over Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday.
Spurs, who had not lifted European silverware since 1984, now qualify for next season’s Champions League. The loss marks a significant financial blow to United, who will miss out on European competition entirely for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Despite the triumph in Bilbao, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou’s future remains uncertain after a dismal domestic campaign. Spurs sit just below United near the bottom of the Premier League table.
The Australian, who lashed out at media criticism earlier this week, insisting he was “not a clown,” had the final word at San Mames, fulfilling his claim of winning silverware in his second season at every club he’s managed.
Supporters packed Athletic Bilbao’s stadium, many traveling under difficult conditions and even sleeping in cars to avoid soaring travel costs. But they were greeted by a tense and scrappy match between two struggling sides.
Both teams, languishing in 16th and 17th place respectively in the Premier League, battled with urgency but little finesse. The high-stakes final was riddled with turnovers, miscommunication, and clumsy fouls, reflecting the lack of confidence from both squads.
United’s Harry Maguire blocked an early effort from Tottenham’s Pape Sarr after Johnson broke past Luke Shaw on the right flank.
United fans, disillusioned with a historically poor domestic campaign, chanted the name of Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese coach many hope will lead the club next season.
One of the few United players playing with conviction, 22-year-old winger Amad Diallo, flashed a shot across goal and later left Destiny Udogie trailing with a confident dribble.
Tottenham broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute through an unorthodox and untidy goal.
Sarr, who had completed just one pass up to that point, curled a cross into the near post. Johnson's attempted flick ricocheted off Shaw’s shoulder, brushed Johnson’s boot again, and trickled over the line as United goalkeeper Andre Onana failed to claw it away with a desperate stretch.
Tottenham dropped deep in the second half to defend their slender lead, hoping to strike again on the counter.
Yves Bissouma came close to doubling the advantage after threading a pass to Dominic Solanke, but the striker failed to control the ball and the opportunity slipped away.
United nearly equalized when Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misjudged a set piece and came off his line without reaching the ball. It fell to Rasmus Hojlund, whose header over the stranded Vicario was heroically cleared by Micky van de Ven with a mid-air acrobatic effort.
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min came on for the ineffective Richarlison, a surprising omission from the starting XI.
United turned to substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee in a bid to claw back into the match but failed to avoid a fourth defeat to Spurs this season.
Shaw, at fault for the decisive goal, had a chance to make amends late on, but Vicario saved his header.
United manager Ruben Amorim had said earlier that winning the Europa League would not solve the club’s deep-rooted problems, but it could have offered a platform for rebuilding. Instead, United leave Bilbao empty-handed — and without European football next season.
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