Tottenham fans have been left baffled after footage emerged of the Europa League trophy being paraded at Old Trafford during Manchester United’s semi-final clash – and the timing could not be more suspect.
The next 12 days are set to be long for Tottenham Hotspur fans, who must now endure a wave of one-sided media coverage in the lead-up to their Europa League showdown with Manchester United on 21 May.
That media push has already kicked off, with a video circulating on social media showing the Europa League trophy inside Old Trafford during Manchester United’s semi-final clash against Athletic Bilbao.
With so many former Manchester United players now taking up punditry roles on television, it is quite clear what the narrative is going to be in the build-up – and Owen Hargreaves has already struck that tone, claiming United are the side carrying momentum into the final.
Tottenham fans react to the Europa League trophy being shown at Old Trafford
Spurs fans have been left perplexed by the viral video, and many have not held back in expressing their confusion, with some going as far as labelling it strange.
One fan replied to the video saying: “Is this some kind of script that is already written? #weird” while another added: “Agreed, very weird icl.”
A third commented: “That does seem strange,” and one supporter was quick to call out the media’s bias: “The classic broadcast media-to-club bias rearing its head again. Not surprised at this, sadly.”
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Another fan added: “The two weeks leading to this final are going to be long, are they not?” while another chimed in: “I see the media agenda for wanting United to win it is in full force then.”
One Spurs fan saw the funny side of it all, posting: “They wanted to show it to them because its next stop is north London,” while another confidently stated: “We are winning it.”
Spurs legends back Tottenham to beat Manchester United in final
While Manchester United pundits have unsurprisingly rallied behind their club, with Paul Scholes suggesting United’s European pedigree makes them favourites to lift the Europa League, a few former Tottenham players have begun to throw their weight behind the Lilywhites.
Speaking after Tottenham’s semi-final win over Bodo/Glimt, ex-Spurs midfielder David Bentley praised Spurs’ performance, describing it as “professional” and “outstanding”, urging the side to finish the job against Manchester United in the final.
He said: “Happy night, I was nervous a little bit before the game, just with the conditions, with the sort of season Tottenham have had, and you just think, ahh please do not.
“But I thought they turned up, they were outstanding. Real professional performance and they have got to a final and it is beautiful, go on and win it and beat Man United, happy days.”
With the final set to take place on 21 May, Tottenham will be looking to make it four wins from four and bring the trophy back to north London when they face Manchester United at San Mames.