Glenn Hoddle has warned Tottenham Hotspur that they will have their work cut out for them if they are to beat Man United for a fourth time this season and win the Europa League final.
The beautiful game that we all love and watch has the power to transform our mood, and for Tottenham Hotspur fans this season, it has been a difficult watch.
However, on Thursday, the Spurs faithful were given a treat, as they watched their very own club secure a spot in the UEFA Europa League final, after they beat Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate.
Elation. Joy. Celebration. They party tonight, for in two weeks, they travel to Bilbao to cheer on their team for one last time this season, with the hopes that their 17-year-long wait for a trophy ends.
Glenn Hoddle gives verdict on Tottenham vs Man United in Europa League final
Manchester United awaits, after they got the job done in their semi-final clash against Athletic Bilbao, beating the Spanish side 7-1 on aggregate.
For Spurs, they are up against a familiar foe, a fellow English side and one that they have beaten three times already this season.
A fourth victory would be a charm, but former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle believes it is not going to be an easy task.
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The ex-manager believes that it is extremely difficult for a side to beat a Premier League team four times in a single season. But he believes that this Tottenham side are very capable of doing so, that is if they play at their best.
He told TNT Sports: “That is a slight problem for me actually, I am on a down… To beat a team four times in one season from the Premier League is really tough, it really is.
“But it is a one-off game and Spurs, when they are on their game, when they defend properly, they are a match for anyone and they have proved that with some of the performances they have put in this year.
“But it is just wonderful for Ange and those lads that have worked hard. They have had a real up and down season, so many different injuries, lots of things being said about the club and whatever.
“But at the end of the day, they find themselves in a final now in Europe against Manchester United. They do love a European final against English opposition, they have had Wolves, they have had Liverpool and now they have got another English team, so it is ironic really.
“But it is a fabulous night for the club. You know those fans, they will be on the phone trying to get hotels, flights, and so will Manchester United fans, let us be fair. I think it is 40-odd thousand, is it not, in Bilbao? Whether there are enough tickets to go around, I am not so sure.”
Spurs vs Manchester United: Previous meetings and what to expect in Europa League final
One does not have to go far back for the last time Tottenham and Manchester United locked horns in a cup competition, with the two sides coming up against each other early on in the season in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
It was a clash that was far from straightforward, as it ended 4-3, despite Spurs going 3-0 up on the night.
Ruben Amorim’s side did not go out without a fight, with his players battling till the very end, but Tottenham eventually came out on top, winning 4-3 thanks to a Heung-min Son strike from a direct corner.
Of course, it would be a lot tougher on the 21st of May, but Tottenham need to make it four out of four if they are to end their trophy drought.