Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has plumped for Tottenham to get the better of Manchester United in the Europa League final.
The stakes could not be higher ahead this year’s all-English affair, with Champions League qualification on the line for the two Premier League rivals in Bilbao.
Languishing down in 17th and 16th respectively in the English top flight, Wednesday night’s eagerly anticipated contest represents an opportunity for one of Spurs or United to save what has otherwise been a wretched campaign.
Ruben Amorim has been sweating over the fitness of several of his key men heading into the match, but Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee were all pictured in training on the eve of the clash.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are set to be without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall through injury, leaving Ange Postecoglou with an almighty selection headache at the San Mames Stadium.
Both teams enter the game having suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League and Cole believes it is a ‘hard one to call’ between the two desperately out-of-form sides.
But the ex-England winger has backed Postecoglou’s men to edge out the Red Devils and get their hands on a first major trophy since the club’s League Cup triumph way back in 2008.
‘I always like both teams to score when Tottenham are playing so I’ll be going with that again here. Can you bet on both teams to lose? No? Are we sure? How do we go about this game?’ Cole said in his Paddy Power column.
‘Both teams to score is the most likely thing to happen in this match but Spurs are missing possibly all of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall as well which gives them a lack of creativity.
‘What does Ange Postecoglou do with that front three with Son Heung-min coming back in? Manchester United looked good at Chelsea for at least half of the game… it’s a hard one to call.
‘Two of my best bets for these teams this year have been both teams to score and for Bruno Fernandes to score or assist for United. I’m going to start with those two bets and then pick a winner and that’s a 50/50 for me.’
Cole continued: ‘I’m happy to go either way, but I’m going to put my neck on the line and go for Spurs in the 90 minutes – only because I’ve got some mates travelling all around the world in 80 days to get there so I want Spurs to win for them!
‘Masochism is real! Those first two are my bets and then whatever your hunch is for a result back that and just enjoy the game!’
In a separate interview with Mail Online, Cole said: ‘I fancy Spurs in the game.
‘I’ve got a few of my pals going out there and watching it and I don’t want to see them crying on my shoulder again.
‘I’ve had enough of them all getting sad so I want them to have a lovely day, and win a trophy so we can all get off their backs in the group chats.’
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Former England striker Alan Shearer has also backed Tottenham to end their long wait for silverware – but feels the match could be decided via a dreaded penalty shootout.
‘Who would you say are favourites? Tottenham because of their record against Man United this season?’ Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
‘They have both been rotten in the Premier League yet one of them is going to be playing Champions League football next season.
‘My prediction is 2-2 or 3-3 after extra-time and Tottenham to win on penalties.’
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