Gazza shares prediction
Paul Gascoigne is backing former club Tottenham to win their Europa League final with Manchester United.
But the England legend is worried Spurs rely on Son too much, especially in the wake of the club's decision to sell Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.
Gazza told ESportsInsider.com: "Well, it's hard to call the winner because they've both been bad this season.
"They’ve not done anything, not won anything and it will be a right battle out there. Both teams are capable of winning.
"I don’t know though, I hope Tottenham will win, but Manchester United are a strong team as well.
"I just look at the front line. I think to myself, who's going to score the goals? And since Spurs sold (Harry) Kane, they're relying a hell of a lot on Son.
"And Son will be feeling it. I think the pressure is showing when you follow in someone's footsteps like Kane.
"But he's doing well. I like Son as a player. He puts so much effort in and work rate, so it's good."
Ex-Man Utd hero predicts Spurs win...
Gordon Strachan hasn't made the trip here to Bilbao to watch the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham.
Which might be a good thing for him, considering Strachan has tipped Spurs to beat his former club in the crunch showdown. Strachan, who made 160 league appearances for United during the 1980s, told Beste Online Casino Nederland:
"I'd obviously like to see Manchester United win the Europa League because they're my old team. But I have a close affinity with Ange Postecoglou, being a fellow ex-Celtic boss!
"If Ange does leave Tottenham, he’ll leave the fans with memories of some wonderful games and goals, and it’s not often you can say that about a manager in the Premier League. He won’t be forgotten.
"I don't think many people have a clue how this final is going to turn out. I don't think it will be a 1-0 to either team. These clubs are incapable of that. I also don’t think it will go to extra-time, it will be decided in 90 minutes.
"Tottenham will come out of the blocks fast. My prediction is 3-2 to Spurs, and Ange to win a trophy in his second season!"
BREAKING: Fergie's en route!
ManchesterUnited have confirmed Sir Alex Ferguson is jetting to Bilbao to cheer on his favourite football club tonight.
Fergie led United to numerous European triumphs during his glorious managerial career at Old Trafford. These included winning the Champions League title, most famously in 1999 and then again in 2008 in Moscow.
But back then winning was part of the club's DNA, unlike these modern times.
Yet given what is at stake in this seismic clash with Tottenham, no-one will be more aware than Fergie just how vital it is United emerge triumphant.
And the Scot, who is expected to arrive in Bilbao in the next two hours, will be hoping it won't be 'squeaky bum time' in the San Mames Stadium.
Mainoo enjoys 'influence'
Kobbie Mainoo is not expected to have much of a say in tonight's proceedings in Bilbao.
But despite the England midfielder having to settle for a place on the Manchester United bench, he can at least boast more power and influence elsewhere.
A study had revealed Mainoo is now the fourth most influential footballer in Europe.
And the highest-ranked Premier League star, according to the findings.
The survey has factored in such things as potential Instagram earnings, Instagram follower increase over one and three-year periods, the number of authentic followers and Instagram engagement.
How the life of a footballer has changed.
Tension building
The tension is building in Bilbao for Man United and Spurs fans ahead of tonight’s Europa League final.
Supporters of both teams are mingling together throughout the city centre exchanging good natured chants, banter and insults, as they pack the local bars.
Thousands of United fans have taken over the picturesque Plaza Nueva square - hoofing footballs into the air and setting off red flares - as they down pint after pint.
Dozens of flags and banners have been hung from the scaffolding around the square as the Red Army enjoys the party atmosphere.
Ryan Tunicliffe, from Middleton, Manchester, arrived on Tuesday night via Amsterdam. He said: “It’s fantastic, everyone is having a great time. I think it’ll be a close game, both teams have been cr*p all year. But as the saying goes, ‘Lads, it’s Tottenham.”
His pal Mark Leigh said: “United will do it. They’ve been sh*t in the league but really good in Europe. We’re going to have a couple more and head off to the stadium.”
United's hotel woe
Manchester United haven't had it all their own way on their second trip to Bilbao in three weeks.
When United beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 at the San Mames Stadium in the first leg of their semi-final three weeks ago, Ruben Amorim and his players stayed in a Melia Hotel near the city's Guggenheim Museum.
They wanted to stay there again, given the players loved it there and the way the result went in in Bilbao, but UEFA delegates hotels for the finalists in the Europa League, with the United forced to stay elsewhere.
Although they managed to book some rooms at the Melia for some staff, as well as another one just outside Bilbao, for guests and VIPs.
Tottenham are staying at The Carlton, a plush city centre hotel, which was used as a base by Athletic Bilbao before their semi-final first leg against United.
A celebratory air... not quite
Considering how bad these two sides have been for the most part, it's unsurprising that few fans in Bilbao are confident about tonight.
OK there's some United fans who think their name is on the trophy.
But Spurs fans are there much more in hope than expectation. They might have beaten United three times already this season, but so bad have the been in the past nine months, few are predicting victory with any sort of confidence.
Punters back Man Utd
It remains to be seen if the smart money is on Manchester United or Tottenham for tonight's Europa League showdown in Bilbao.
But most of it is being placed on United.
Most punters are struggling to call the game, not least because of how bad these two English rivals have been this season.
Yet when it comes to the betting market, United are attracting the bulk of the interest.
William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps said: "The highly-anticipated Europa League final between Manchester United and Spurs is upon us, and while many are struggling to call the game, it’s been one-way traffic in the betting for Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils.
"United are favourites to win the tie in 90 minutes at 13/10. We have seen three times the amount of stakes on Amorim's side in this market, compared to money placed on Spurs."
Man Utd feeling "very confident"
The mood within the Manchester United camp ahead of tonight's all-or-nothing Europa League final showdown with Tottenham is "very confident" - according to sources close to the squad.
There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, but those who have been with Ruben Amorim and his players at the United team hotel in Bilbao this morning say the mood is upbeat and there is a a real sense of confidence among the players and staff that they can get the job done tonight and lift the trophy - and with it a ticket to next season's Champions League, which is worth up to £100million in revenue.
'Leaked' Lineups
There's been a lot of chatter, as expected, on the starting lineups of each side tonight.
From a Spurs POV, it's centres around whether Son starts ahead of Richarlison, the two in the heart of midfield and whether James Maddison - having travelled to Bilbao - is actually able to play any part.
For United it's more focused on defence and where Ruben Amorim places his trust with Matthijs de Ligt having been ruled out and if it'll be Amad or Alejandro Garnacho in one of the three attacking positions. Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are back fit again and have been pushing to start.
There are growing suggestions that this is how each side will line up this evening.
Man Utd: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Garnacho, Fernandes; Hojlund.
Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Bentancur, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Son.
Shearer tips Spurs win
Alan Shearer is backing Tottenham to beat Manchester United and end their trophy drought.
"This match is pretty impossible to predict when you look at how bad both teams have been," Shearer told Betfair. "Spurs have done really well against Man United this season, so due to their record against them I'd say Spurs may be slight favourites.
"There are more negatives than positives for both teams when you look at them. I really haven't got a clue what to expect or what teams will turn up. It's a bit of a flip of a coin and it'll be a disaster for whoever doesn't win.
"Given what’s at stake for both clubs, it could have an impact on the game. There's so much relying on both teams, managers and both clubs' short-term futures. There's no exaggeration that both teams need an injection of five or six players to try and compete again and that's why the stakes of this game are enormous.
"Just because of their record over the last five or six games against them, and particularly this season, I'll go for a Spurs win. It wouldn't surprise me if the game goes all the way to penalties, but I'll go for Spurs to win in normal time."
Maguire makes "inconsistent" admission
Harry Maguire has admitted Manchester United have fallen well below the standard expected of them this season, with Ruben Amorim's side down in 16th place in the Premier League.
Maguire said: "This season we've been far too inconsistent. We haven't won enough in the Premier League, it's not been good enough and we know that. The Europa League has been different, we've performed at a high level.
"I'm sure next season we will improve an awful amount, with a full pre-season and as players we're looking forward to that. But we've got a big game here and that's first and foremost. It's a special night, a special occasion and we've prepared well the last few days and it's one we're looking forward to."
Rooney makes Sister Act confession
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has told fans how he watched Sister Act as he prepared for his European final in 2008.
Appearing at the United fanzone in Bilbao Rooney also backed his old team to beat Spurs tonight so the fans can enjoy a few “bevvies”. Thousands have attended the zone in a park above the city as Rooney went on stage with fellow aces Wes Brown, Andy Cole and Denis Irwin.
He told the cheering crowd: “I remember the final in 2008, I went in the room and watched Sister Act.” He added: “It’s so good to be here, I hope the lads tonight give everyone the chance to go and get a few bevvies and enjoy the night.”
When asked how many goals he would score in this current United side he said: “I would like to think me and Coley would have scored more than the forwards have this season.
“It’s been a tough season, difficult to watch. But to have the opportunity to win a European trophy and get back in the Champions League, I hope they can get the club back to where it needs to be.”
Wes Brown told the United fans: “I was out late last night - let’s hope I can go out late tonight.”
Fans sleeping on park benches
Manchester United fans have revealed the various lengths they've gone to in order to be in Bilbao for the Europa League final. United will face Tottenham on Wednesday night at the San Mames Stadium.
With Bilbao relatively isolated in the Basque Country, hotel and flight prices have skyrocketed ever since United and Spurs booked their places in the final. That has forced fans to either fork out massive prices for hotels or get creative.
Some have plumped for hostels, with one fan tweeting: "€450 to stay in a 10 bed prison cell for 2 nights. Bilbao is well and truly on." Others have bitten the bullet and paid out for hotels, with one saying: "Made it to my hotel in Bilbao. €950 for two nights. Asked how much it would have been without the football. €150 she said, apologetically."
One three-star hotel in Bilbao is selling rooms for £4000 per night, a huge increase on normal days. Given those massive prices, some supporters have even taken to sleeping on park benches in Bilbao.
One man shared a photo of himself lying on a bench in the Spanish city, with the caption: "There’ll be thousands of reds, without any beds. Park bench for the night in Bilbao it is."
Amorim makes "not a big thing" claim
Ruben Amorim has claimed Manchester United winning the Europa League "is not a big thing" as he calmed the excitement around possibly lifting the trophy in Bilbao on Wednesday night.
He told CBS Sports : "If you win the Europa League in Manchester United, I'm sorry, it is not a big thing. You need to go for Premier League and the Champions League - and we are so far away. That is my feeling. Of course it would be a title, a European title, but it is not enough."
Klinsmann shares prediction
Tottenham legend Jurgen Klinsmann believes the Europa League Final could be the game that makes or breaks Ange Postecoglou. Spurs face Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday night with a place in next season’s Champions League up for grabs.
Both Postecoglou and Reds’ boss Ruben Amorim will finish the Premier League campaign in the lower reaches of the table after suffering defeats at Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively on Friday night.
And Klinsmann said: "It’s such an interesting game because both clubs have been so disappointing in the Premier League this season. Of course it is an important moment for both clubs because there is a place in the Champions League for the winners.
"But it is also a huge game for both managers - and especially Ange. I think Amorim will be given more time to establish his own team at United, but for Postecoglou it is clear that he is in a completely different position at the end of his second year.
"If he wins the Europa League then I hope it will buy him more time to get things right because I know that Spurs is such a fantastic club. There is so much on the line in this final and because the teams have been so inconsistent, it’s impossible to predict what would happen."
Dominos take dig at Spurs
Dominos have taken a dig at Tottenham ahead of the final by unveiling a live billboard outside the club's stadium that highlights how many pizzas they have delivered since Spurs last won a trophy.
"We’re not taking sides but if Spurs deliver in Bilbao we’ll happily reset the counter to zero," Domino's Sports Specialist Izzy Gardener said. "At Domino’s, we always deliver – now it’s their turn to do the same in the final. And of course, all eyes are on Ange… no pressure, mate."
Teddy Sheringham's prediction
The former Manchester United and Spurs star has made his prediction ahead of tonight's clash in the Basque country.
Here's what he reckons will go down....
I could see there being a lot of goals in the game, because neither team can defend, and neither of them want to play defensively. I see a very high-scoring, open game. I’m going to predict a 4-3 win, but I don’t know which team will edge it.
I think either way, it’s going to be goals galore and it will be end-to-end stuff.
If I was looking at this from Man United's point of view, then I would be looking at the weaknesses in the Tottenham defence, but as I said, United’s back four is hardly a tight ship. Whoever can be more solid at the back will have an advantage and it might come down to which team makes fewer mistakes, because both sides have got a rick in them.
If it goes to penalties. I think the pressure will be massively on Manchester United. A shootout could really affect them mentally, with all the implications of the result.
Sheringham was speaking to Prime Casino.
Amorim adamant!
Ruben Amorim is adamant he prepared for the Europa League final the right way by playing strong teams, rather than resting players ahead of Manchester United's showdown with Tottenham.
Amorim played a near full-strength side in United's last game, a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea, while Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou rested most of his first-choice selection for their 2-0 loss at Aston Villa.
Asked if that gave Spurs an advantage over United ahead of their meeting in Bilbao, Amorim said:
“An advantage? I don't know. But you have to see the context. I don't know the context of Tottenham, but what I know is we had the last Europa League game against Athletic Bilbao.
“We had that game and then we rested some players, because we were afraid of some injuries. Then we had a full week to prepare for the game. I felt, with five days to the final, the best thing to prepare for the final was to give time to the players to play.
"So I cannot respond from Tottenham's side, but for me it was really clear.
“We need to compete and the best way to prepare for something is to compete and I had that feeling.
"I pushed the players against West Ham in the end of the game and I felt that against Chelsea we should show something, to prove that when we are focused and when we play our game, we can control any game in any place. So it was a good day to compete to prepare for the final. That was the idea.”
ANALYSIS: Can United end on a high?
According to the bookmakers, in this battle of the Premier League's most miserable this season (excluding the relegated teams, obviously), United are favourites tonight.
That's despite being turned over three times by Spurs already this term.
Ruben Amorim's men have been awful in the league and he's only seen things get worse since replacing Erik ten Hag. But this European run has earned him some credit with fans. If he wins tonight and they enter next season's Champions League, it WILL have saved their season - and give him more time to build and get his ideas across.
Certainly, the United camp was much more relaxed than Spurs after arriving on Tuesday.
Keane lands new job
Manchester United legend Roy Keane will be making his punditry debut for a new broadcaster at the Europa League final. Keane is a regular pundit for both Sky Sports and ITV Sport, but he will be working for a different broadcaster for the final.
CBS Sports have announced that he will be part of their punditry team alongside regulars Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards, while Anita Jones will be presenting the US broadcaster's coverage.
Fellow United legend Peter Schmeichel will also be working for CBS as a pitchside reporter along with Guillem Balague. Former referee Christina Unkel is also set to offer her expertise, while Clive Tyldesley and ex-England goalkeeper Rob Green will be on commentary duty.
Man Utd and Spurs fans brawl
Footage has emerged showing Manchester United and Tottenham fans brawling ahead of the Europa League final.
In the footage, supporters can be seen throwing punches and objects at each other in San Sebastian. According to the Sun, authorities were alerted at around 9.20pm after residents on Fermín Calbetón Street witnessed the violence.
It is claimed the fight began when two groups of fans began 'shouting and hurling insults' and that it 'quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl'.
Ferdinand shares concerns
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand fears the team could struggle physically against Tottenham in the Europa League final, admitting that Ruben Amorim's men "can't keep up with any team in the Premier League". The Red Devils have flown out to Bilbao hoping to finish their awful season with silverware, with Spurs standing in their way.
And Ferdinand worries that his old team lack the pace and physicality of their Premier League rivals, arguing that they have performed well in Europe this season because they are yet to come up against an English team.
"The worrying thing for me from a Man United perspective is that physically we can’t keep up with any team in the Premier League,' he said, speaking to talkSPORT. "If they go man-to-man and go toe-to-toe with us we’re at a disadvantage because our profile of our players at Man United are not players that can run as hard and as fast, and as long, and they’re not as powerful as other teams.
"That’s a big thing in the Premier League. In the Europa, we’re overpowering every team. There’s only one team I’ve watched us play against in the Europa League that we struggled against and thought 'Ooh, that was a bit too close for comfort'. Rangers, who are more akin to a Premier League side, physically. So that’s the concern for me in the final playing against a Premier League team, who have beaten us three times, that physically can, minimum, match us."