Manchester United have travelled to Bilbao ahead of Wednesday night's Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur at the San Mames Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has insisted that his team are confident they can beat Manchester United for the fourth time this season and win the Europa League.
The two Premier League clubs who have been statistically the worst in the division this season, bar those who have been relegated, meet in Bilbao on Wednesday night with a place in next season's Champions League on the line. Considering United's track record of playing in Europe, the pressure is on them to win and book their place in the top tier competition.
For Spurs, the pressure is just as great as not only will they be without Europe if they lose, they shall also extend their wait for a major trophy which dates back to 2008. What's more, their manager Ange Postecoglou has insisted he always wins a trophy by his second season at a club and the Europa League marks his last opportunity to do just that.
Speaking in an interview with GQ, Van de Ven insisted that his team are feeling good about the final. "If you join Spurs, of course people make jokes that you’re never going to win a trophy," he explained.
"This group of players and staff want to make sure we change this for the fans and the club. We want to win for the gaffer, of course.
"Everyone knows he’s said he always wins things in his second year [at a club]. It’s a nice quote for him and it would make it even more beautiful if we can make it happen.
"He has been so positive the whole season and made sure that no one ever lets their head down even if we played a terrible game. We never had a feeling that he was giving up on us; he’s always kept pushing us.
"That’s why at the end of a tough season we still believe we will win." Belief for Van de Ven and his teammates is likely to also come from the recent record between these two clubs.
United have met Tottenham in three matches - two in the Premier League and one in the Carabao Cup - and the Reds are yet to taste victory. Their most recent victory came in the Premier League when James Maddison's strike was the difference between the two teams.
Tottenham will be without their key midfielder on Wednesday night though as he continues his recovery from injury.
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