Despite only being able to name a UEFA 'A-List ' squad of 23-players for the Europa League, Tottenham have used 33 different individuals on their route to the final. Ange Postecoglou is missing a host of those in Bilbao but it won't stop them from getting potential winners medals.
Unlike in the Premier League, UEFA do not add any stipulations or rules regarding who is eligible or not for a medal. It means that a host of players who have either not been involved at all this season or since the group phase finished, could find themselves with a surprise medal.
The Premier League limit winners medals to those who have played at least five times. UEFA, however, simply offer out 50 to the winning team and allow the club to divide them between the players and staff as is seen fit. The losers get 40 silver medals.
This not only means that players like James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall, who will miss the final through injury, can claim a winners' medal if Tottenham are victorious in Spain on Wednesday, but so can others. Alfie Whiteman suffered a season-ending injury and hasn't made an appearance but could be given a medal, for example.
There are a host of young players who may well not make the matchday squad against United who could also be rewarded. Both Callum Olusesi and Oyindamola Ajayi played a single game in the Europa League this season and might be given a medal.
Alfie Dorrington did not play in Europe but has made one appearance. Dane Scarlett has five total matches with two in the Europa League but none from the start.
Even January signing Kevin Danso has hardly played but might yet get a medal. He has started once out of two Europa League appearances.
Others, such as Fraser Forster, Timo Werner, and Radu Dragusin, were not included in the knockout stage squad which was submitted at the end of the winter transfer window (which closed in early February). None of them, therefore, have helped Tottenham in their most perilous Europa League fixtures against AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bodo/Glimt.
Injuries have not stopped Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, Maddison, Bergvall, or Scarlett from travelling with the squad to the final. Postecoglou has taken a large party out to Spain with him including Antonin Kinsky and Whiteman.
Will Lankshear, who spent the second half of the season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, has played and scored for Spurs in the Europa League and cannot feature in the final but is among those to have flown to Bilbao. He could be in line for a winners' medal should Tottenham clinch victory.
Speaking ahead of the final, Postecoglou admitted: "It’s such a big game tomorrow, there is an opportunity to fulfil at least the main task which is to bring trophies to the club."
He added, addressing the chance to qualify for the Champions League: "It’s a great prize, the significance of Champions League qualification and what it means for every football club. There are the obvious benefits but also you get the opportunity to play against the best in the continent.
"But the club has been in the Champions League before. It hasn’t won a trophy for a long time. So that’s the most important thing."