The Guardian

Ange Postecoglou leaving on a high could be Spurs’ best-case scenario

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 09/05/2025 - 17:01

Take the emotion out of it. It is easier said than done. Tottenham Hotspur are not in the business of hoarding silverware and there will be a temptation to stick with Ange Postecoglou if they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final. The pressure on Daniel Levy to give Postecoglou another chance would be intense. It is not hard to see which way a chair with a history of populist moves would go.

Yet there is rarely much to gain from the impulsiveness of judging a manager on the basis of a one-off game that could be won on penalties or with a lucky late goal. The obvious cautionary tale is provided by United keeping Erik ten Hag after last season’s triumph in the FA Cup, only for the Dutchman to be sacked five months later. Serious clubs are supposed to be clinical. The mistake is often to look for wider meaning in a weird and illogical cup run.

Look at Chelsea. Would they have been right to give Avram Grant another season if John Terry had scored his penalty in the Champions League final in 2008? Obviously not. Four years later, though, Chelsea were swept away by the romance of becoming European champions after appointing Roberto Di Matteo as caretaker manager. Giving Di Matteo the job on a permanent basis was a mistake. It was not a surprise when he was sacked three months into the following season. There are also parallels with David Moyes leaving West Ham a year after guiding them to Conference League glory. It was West Ham’s first trophy in 43 years but it did not stop supporters grumbling about Moyes’s tactics and their team’s uneven league form.

Maintaining a sense of perspective is the challenge. Juande Ramos was the last Spurs manager to lift a trophy but beating Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final was not the start of a dynasty. Ramos was gone before the turn of the year. Tottenham acted quickly after a disastrous start to the 2008-09 campaign. Any outrage at Ramos’s treatment was forgotten when the Spaniard’s replacement, Harry Redknapp, led the club into the Champions League 18 months later.

Yet there will be a case for Levy to give Postecoglou another chance if the Australian wins the club’s first trophy in 17 years. It would be a major achievement. Spurs are the lovable losers. They play nice football but wilt under pressure. The smart money is on United overcoming their awfulness and tapping into their greater knowhow in the final. Spurs cannot match that experience. The challenge for Postecoglou is as much mental as tactical; he has to ensure that his players are not overcome by the size of the occasion. Do that and letting him go would feel harsh.

Equally Spurs have to calculate whether success in Europe would demonstrate that Postecoglou is capable of succeeding in English football. An uncomfortable reality for Uefa is that the financial dominance of the Premier League is starting to tell in the Europa League and Conference League.

For all their domestic struggles, Spurs and United reaching the final is a predictable turn of events. Spurs are richer than every team they have faced in the knockout phase. They saw off AZ in the last 16, recovering from a first-leg defeat to beat the sixth-best side in the Eredivisie. Eintracht Frankfurt, their quarter-final opponents, sold their star forward Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January and are third in a mundane Bundesliga. A semi-final against the first Norwegian side to go this deep in Europe was even more inviting.

Where Postecoglou deserves credit is in how he has adapted his tactics in this competition. He put pragmatism over principles in the second leg against Frankfurt, ensuring that Tottenham won a game many expected them to lose, and a direct approach proved similarly effective against Bodø/Glimt. Spurs were calm, professional and deserving of their 2-0 win on the plastic pitch at the Aspmyra Stadium on Thursday.

Yet that flexibility has rarely been seen in the Premier League. Spurs have been chaotic at the back and careless with leads. Nineteen defeats says it all. Postecoglou finished fifth last season but a strong start to the campaign papered over a lot of cracks. It is hard to overlook how bad the league form has been since November 2023.

Injuries have been a factor this season. Then again Spurs were not convincing when everyone was available at the start of the campaign. The pressure grew when they squandered a 2-0 lead against Brighton in October. They were close to full strength when they lost at home to Ipswich. There have also been suggestions that Postecoglou’s gung-ho style has contributed to the fitness issues. It is unclear whether Spurs’ cautious approach to recruitment under Levy can cope with the physical demands of Postecoglou’s system. The strain will increase if they are in the Champions League next season.

The Guardian

Xabi Alonso confirms he is leaving Bayer Leverkusen: football news – live

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 09/05/2025 - 09:32

United and Spurs chase Champions League prize in all-English final: football – live - The Guardian

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Hello everyone. Michael Butler here, taking over from John Brewin. Feel free to email me any thoughts about Alonso, the Europa League final or whether at the age of 37, with a second child on the way and almost no prospect of playing 11-a-side football regularly for the foreseeable future, you are considering a big spend on a brand new pair of boots for next season (despite already having a perfectly serviceable pair already in the wardrobe).

michael.butler@theguardian.com

Updated at 14.21 CEST

Confirmed: Alonso to leave Leverkusen

“The club and I have agreed that these two last games will be my last as Bayer Leverkusen coach,” he has announced in a press conference. “Now is the right moment.”

It has been reported in Spain he has agreed a pre-contract agreement to coach Real Madrid. More to follow…

Updated at 14.11 CEST

John Brewin

Maresca highlights ‘fantastic’ Tonali ahead of Newcastle visit

Having safely booked Chelsea’s Conference League final place, Enzo Maresca turned his attentions to his team’s noon kick-off at Newcastle. In fifth place they have to see out their final three Premier League matches to book a place in next season’s Champions League.

“The players need to be focused on the Newcastle game because it’s the next one and for us, it has to be like thinking that it’s the last game of the season, give everything and then we’ll see at the end,” the Italian said, depicting his team’s remaining domestic fixtures as three cup finals. Manchester United next Friday and Nottingham Forest on final day follow Newcastle.

“We have two days, tomorrow and Saturday,” Maresca said, having shuffled in ten changes into the team who beat Swedish outfit Djurgarden 1-0 on Thursday. “The frustration is that we had many games where we created enough chances to win the game and we didn’t win. But now is not the moment to think about that. Now is the moment to try to win as much as we can in these last three games and then we’ll see.”

Maresca acknowledged the growing influence of compatriot Sandro Tonali in Newcastle’s midfield. “Sandro probably this season has been top for Newcastle. For him, he’s doing very well. He’s a fantastic player. I know him since he was in Brescia and then moved to Milan and then now here in England. He’s a fantastic player, he’s doing well but they have many, many good players.”

Tonali has been inspirational this season on his return from a gambling-related ban. “I think he has been always a good player. Probably that kind of moment is not ideal but not for Sandro, for no one of us. And now it’s more stronger and you can see how good he is.”

'Xabi Alonso to leave Bayer Leverkusen'

Via German magazine Kicker’s website: “Now it’s definitely a done deal: Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer 04 after this season. The successful coach announced this to the Leverkusen players before training on Friday afternoon.”

Krishna gets in touch: “As a Chelsea fan, I dare Real to show us their Europa League and Conference league medals.”

WSL to retain promotion and relegation

Big story from Tom Garry here, and still plenty to be decided.

It is understood no decision has been taken about how the formats will change from 2026. The league is believed to be exploring several innovative alterations that could make the top of the women’s pyramid look very different from the English men’s format.

That’ll be all from me. John Brewin is here to take over so keep those emails coming.

Vítor Pereira has been named the Premier League manager of the month. Wolves won five out of five in April, continuing their resurgence under the 56-year-old. The question is whether he’s here for the long haul; one of the sub-heads on his Wikipedia page is ‘Five clubs in eight years’.

Updated at 13.34 CEST

A boiling, dangerous, swelteringly hot-take incoming from Jack Kirby-Lowe.

I feel winning a cup competition (becoming the “champions” of it, if you will) seems justification enough for being included in the Champions League. Arguably much more so than including teams that finish 2nd-5th in the league. What exactly are they champions of again?

Personally, I feel places in the CL in England should be awarded to the League, League Cup and FA Cup winners, with league position only coming into consideration in the event of a team doing the double or the treble, and only after the runners up in the cups have been discounted in this way too. If that only meant three English teams qualifying, so be it. Obviously winning the CL or EL should qualify too, because again, that team are the Champions of something.

Love and kisses, COYS.

Newcastle, fear not, you’ve already qualified. Crystal Palace, you’re one game away. Wigan might have found it touch balancing the Champions League with the Championship during their 2013/14 campaign.

Spurs have met United three times this season – and won them all. The league double was backed up by a slightly mad 4-3 encounter in the League Cup. The kicker for Spurs is that this United team have held their nerve in finals across the last two seasons.

United, you’ll remember, also reached the Europa League final in 2021, when they lost on penalties (a long old shootout) to Villarreal. But only three members of the XI that started that night remain at the club (not including Marcus Rashford).

“Arsenal and other fans are so funny,” writes Louis Muspratt-Tucker. “When Spurs were consistently at the top of the league, generally agreed to be one of the best-run clubs in the league, we were repeatedly told that none of it matters without trophies. How times change.”

Updated at 13.33 CEST

Vivek is not best pleased by the configuration of the Europa League final:

Now that we know either of these teams could be rubbing shoulders with the elite in Europe next season, I wonder if it’s time to rebranding the competition as the “Champions League” (double quotes inclusive).

In what universe would two teams who could end up finishing 15th and 16th in their league be considered champions, unless the gong is for greatest display of management ineptitude, chasing the bottomline, disregard for fans, comical recruitment and stinking up the rest of the league?

(Asking for an Arsenal fan)

Some pretty dreadful stories here:

Content, content, content. The broadcasters want more for their buck.

Sam Turner writes in. I admire his brighter outlook on life:

It’s important to remember what the sport is about and why you enjoy it, the agony and the ecstasy of supporting your team through thick and thin and that has been on display for Manchester United fans in a big way this season.

Despite the turbulence on and off the pitch the past few seasons have given me some of my favourite moments as a United fan; the 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup, the 2-1 win over Barcelona with Antony’s late winner, the FA Cup Manchester Derby victory, knocking out Arsenal at the Emirates, the 5-4 mayhem against Lyon, these are moments that will live with me in a way that a clinical 2-0 win against Fulham won’t.

Loving your club means going through these difficult moments and I can accept the decision to sacrifice league position in order to pursue the best route to Champions League football and the rebuild necessary to compete on all fronts again.

Paul MacInnes

David Kogan has cleared a significant hurdle in his bid to become the first chair of the English football regulator, after a parliamentary committee endorsed his candidacy.

The culture media and sport select committee conducted a ‘pre-appointment hearing’ with Kogan on Wednesday in which they grilled him on his priorities as a regulator, his past experience, and his well-publicised history as a donor to the Labour party.

On Friday the committee published their verdict on the hearing including a decision to endorse his candidacy. “We are content to endorse David Kogan OBE’s appointment as Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, recognising his vast experience in the football and media sectors,” the conclusion read.

The committee, which is led by the Conservative MP Caroline Dinenage, did however say there were “concerns” over Kogan’s political impartiality and urged him to “take concrete steps” to prove his independence to stakeholders in the game.

Here’s what Ange Postecoglou had to say about the significance of Spurs potentially winning the Europa League.

It’s massive. Of course it is, because you have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15 or 20 years and what the supporters have been through. A final is a unique standalone game, it’s a bit different to everything you do in the buildup to it. But if you’re talking about resilience and adversity, this group of players have had it in bucket-loads this year and we’ve still found a way to deal with it.

Spurs have lost four finals since winning the League Cup in 2008 – three in that competition, in 2009, 2015 and 2021. The real heartbreaker was the Champions League final defeat in 2019 to Liverpool. Jonathan Woodgate remains their last cup final hero.

It’s that time of the week:

Ben Lake writes in response to my preamble question:

On the opening question, I was having this discussion yesterday and the way I see it is this- Would I swap our (Arsenal) situation with Man Utd or Spurs?

Would I take the constant chaos of Utd’s management and the siphoning of funds away from the club? The firing of ancillary staff to save a few pennies? The leaky roof? Abysmal recruitment strategy?

Would I swap with Spurs, a club who will almost certainly end up firing their manager early next season? Would I swap multiple season of competing at the top with increasingly worse performances season on season to the point where relegation might have been a realistic proposition?

No. I would not. Trophies are obviously, what we all aim for but if the cost of that is never ending chaos, instability and having to deal with the MBA types currently in charge of those other two clubs, you can keep it. I’m hopping a better organised structure and longer term plan will pay out eventually.

John Brewin

As an eyewitness to events at Stamford Bridge, it became abundantly clear that the away fans were not confined to the Shed End. Some had obviously bought tickets elsewhere and made a break for the away end. They were allowed to pass through. Once the game began, it was clear parts of the West Stand’s corporate section were full of Swedish fans making no apologies for their noise levels. At full-time, as Chelsea fans exited, the Swedes stayed on and were in every corner of the ground.

Chelsea released a statement late last night: “At the start of this evening’s match, Chelsea FC were aware some away fans gained access to areas of the stadium in violation of our ticketing policy. The Chelsea supporters sitting in the immediate areas impacted were relocated, with additional security and police deployed.”

Questions are being raised by the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust as to how the ticketing system allowed in so many away fans. It made for an atmospheric night in the stands, and appeared good-natured enough, but videos of skirmishes in the concourses have since appeared.

Updated at 11.47 CEST

Salah and Russo claim FWA awards

Alessia Russo has won the Football Writers’ Association women’s player of the year award, a reward for a fine season with Arsenal – she’s up top in the WSL goalscoring charts with 12 and has been key in the side’s run to the Champions League final.

Mo Salah has won the men’s title, equalling Thierry Henry with three wins. The Egyptian forward previously won the award in 2018 and 2022.

Mason Mount enjoyed the finest night of his Manchester United career, scoring twice against Athletic Bilbao, the second a wonderful long-range ping. Ruben Amorim was chuffed for a player who has had it tough with injuries.

I’m so happy for him. He is such a player. He works really hard, he has quality. When you see that kind of guy like Mason working hard every day, eating well, having ice baths, when you have this kind of player you just want to help him. He is perfect for this position as he can be a midfielder, but also runs like a winger so I’m really happy for him.

Not just me – if you look at the bench, that is the best feeling as a coach, you look at the other guys on the bench and they are so happy for Mason Mount – everyone in that dressing room sees Mason Mount doing everything to be available. He is a really good player and both goals were really good.

Slot: Bradley needs playing time to be ready for next season

Arne Slot has been speaking about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure:

“I think like everybody who likes Liverpool and who’s a fan of Liverpool we are disappointed for him leaving because not only a good human being is leaving the club but a very, very, very good full-back is leaving us as well.”

He says it’s “impossible for me to comment” on whether Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool before the Club World Cup as it’s yet to be confirmed where he’s going (though we all know the destination).

On Conor Bradley, potentially Alexander-Arnold’s full-time replacement, Slot says: “With Conor we all see the potential. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been fit throughout the whole season and to become a very good player you have to be available every single week as well. That’s the first step he has to make for next season. We have a lot of confidence in Conor as a very good full-back for Liverpool.

Bradley will start this weekend against Arsenal: “He needs playing time, to get some games under his belt to be better prepared for next season.”

Updated at 13.36 CEST

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has released a statement regarding visiting supporters after last night’s Conference League semi-final second leg with Djurgården at Stamford Bridge.

During Thursday’s Uefa Conference League vs. Djurgården, a huge number of away supporters were able to infiltrate large areas of the home end.

This is the most serious breach of stadium security in recent memory, and it significantly undermines any security protocols Chelsea FC put in place ahead of the fixture.

As a result, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will formally write a letter of complaint to Chelsea FC’s COO and Head of Security. We will call for a formal investigation by the club into the ticket sales process and Chelsea FC’s security response during the match.

The findings of this investigation and any subsequent recommendations must be made available to supporters.

The CST invites all supporters who attended the fixture on Thursday to submit written, photographic, and video evidence they captured during the fixture.

The CST will then collate this evidence and then submit it to Chelsea FC.

It is important to note that the CST shared concerns with senior club officials over the vulnerability of home areas ahead of this fixture. No supporter should feel unsafe while at Stamford Bridge, and the CST will do everything to ensure that a full and proper explanation is issued to supporters and safeguards are put in place to ensure that this situation is not repeated in the future.

Updated at 10.55 CEST

Preamble

Let’s be honest: this is really, really funny. Manchester United and Tottenham have had a shocking time in the league this season (15th and 16th respectively, 35 defeats between them, record-breaking stuff in a bad way).

And yet here they are, ready to compete in a European final. Spurs could win their first major trophy in 17 years. A United victory would make it three consecutive seasons of silverware; even in crisis, they somehow find a way to compete.

Which leads to a genuine question regarding fandom. Would you rather opt for a season of solidity, excellent football to go with grand results but no trophy pay-off (Arsenal), or a year of misery until a glorious and triumphant day out at Wembley etc? I’m leaning towards the former but would be interested to hear from others.

Drop me a line with your thoughts on that and any other matters as we build up to another weekend of, let’s face it, rather inconsequential Premier League action.

The Guardian

Europa League win for Tottenham would be ‘massive’, says Ange Postecoglou

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 09/05/2025 - 00:11

Ange Postecoglou said it would be “massive” for Tottenham to win the Europa League after they set up an all-English final thanks to a resilient 2-0 win over Bodø/Glimt.

Spurs, who have gone 17 years without silverware, made it through to their first European final since 2019 after producing a streetwise display on a plastic pitch in northern Norway. Goals from Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke sealed a 5-1 aggregate win, meaning the north London club will qualify for the Champions League if they beat Manchester United in Bilbao on 21 May.

It would be a stunning way for Spurs to end a troubled campaign. They have struggled in the Premier League but Postecoglou, who remains in danger of losing his job, did not downplay how significant it would be for his side to end the wait for a major trophy.

“It’s massive,” the Spurs manager said. “Of course it is, because you have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15 or 20 years and what the supporters have been through. A final is a unique standalone game, it’s a bit different to everything you do in the buildup to it. But if you’re talking about resilience and adversity, this group of players have had it in bucket-loads this year and we’ve still found a way to deal with it.

“We’ve been losing players, key players, and yet they’ve still found a way to stick together and believe in what we’re doing. That gives me the belief that the challenge we have of trying to overcome a tough opponent in a massive game – I know the lads have it in them to rise to that.”

Postecoglou has previously spoken about watching European finals with his father when he was a child in Australia. “I’ve got friends who I grew up with who are probably booking tickets to Bilbao,” he said. “For all intents and purposes I’ll be on the touchline but almost with the imposter syndrome that I should be in the stands with them because that’s where it comes from. It’s my fourth year in European football and I’ve got the chance to lead a team into a European final.

“That’s something I will look back on but I’d rather look back fondly with a positive memory on the day. But yeah, [it’s] not just my dad but my family, my wife who was here today cheering on with the away end.

“Credit to her and two boys on a school night who I’ve promised a trip to Bilbao. There’s so many people you know who take the knocks and feel it more than I do. I’m sure they’re proud of me tonight but more importantly I’m just pleased I can give it back to them for all their sacrifices.”

Postecoglou, who can still make good on his promise about always winning a trophy in his second season, has adopted a more pragmatic approach in Europe.

“I love winning,” he said. “That’s what I’ve done my whole career. People will dismiss it, that’s fine. But I love winning, and I love the way the boys understood what we needed to do tonight. It’s a credit to the boys that they understood the task and still had the quality to score the goals.”

The Guardian

Dominic Solanke silences Bodø and books Tottenham’s ticket to Bilbao

Submitted by daniel on Thu, 08/05/2025 - 23:24

Who are you and what have you done with Ange Postecoglou? There was a messy goal from a set piece, a plan with pragmatism at its core and a team able to find beauty in the kind of robust performance that has so often seemed alien to Postecoglou’s entire footballing vision.

All the cool came from Tottenham Hotspur in the Arctic Circle. Their touch was sure on the infamous plastic pitch at the Aspmyra Stadion and they did not mind turning this Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt into a grind. Serious rather than spectacular, they were never under threat of failing to seal their place in the final against Manchester United.

Goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro were enough for Spurs to win 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate. Through to their first European final since 2019, silverware is within reach for the first time in 17 years. This has been such a challenging season for Postecoglou but vindication could yet arrive for the Spurs manager.

The sprinklers were on long before kick-off, drenching a surface already designed to play quickly. Warming up in incessant rain, Spurs knew they had to have their wits about them. This is a place designed to trip up unsuspecting visitors and the vibe among the locals was remarkably optimistic.

They had already seen Porto, Besiktas, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Twente, Olympiakos and Lazio leave this quirky little ground empty-handed this season and the argument that Spurs had not built up enough of a first-leg lead began to feel more compelling as the atmosphere in the stands grew ever more hostile. So much so it seemed that Bodø/Glimt’s 8,200 fans hardly needed the jolt of a pre-match fireworks show to get them on their feet.

This remote, windswept Arctic outpost had never experienced anything quite this momentous before. Buoyed up by the return of the influential duo of Patrick Berg and Håkon Evjen from suspension in midfield, Bodø/Glimt believed a 3-1 deficit would be wiped out. They were sure that reality was not going to intrude on the fairytale.

If anything, though, the hosts were too eager during the early stages. Spurs were quicker to settle, with Richarlison causing problems for Fredrik Sjøvold on the left, and were closing to pulling clear when Pedro Porro lined up a free-kick in the ninth minute. It took a fine save from Nikita Haikin to prevent the right-back’s effort from finding the top corner.

Postecoglou must have been delighted with his side’s start. It was a year to the day since Spurs pulled off their miraculous comeback against Ajax in the semi-finals of the Champions League but this seemed more sedate. Richarlison continued to threaten, Dominic Solanke’s hold-up play was impressive and there was an escape for the hosts when Destiny Udogie failed to find anyone after sneaking through on the left.

Calm and professional, Spurs were using the ball well, even with injuries stripping their midfield of the poise offered by James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall. Dejan Kulusevski, Maddison’s replacement, was proving effective in disrupting Bodø/Glimt’s attempts to play out from the back. Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur mopped up in front of the back four. The only misstep from Spurs came when Brennan Johnson picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge.

Bodø/Glimt struggled to build up a head of steam. Ole Didrik Blomberg fired into the side netting and Berg forced Guglielmo Vicario to tip a free-kick over but in truth there was not much to worry Spurs before half-time.

The curious thing is that Postecoglou has not hesitated to dispense with his idealistic approach in Europe. Spurs have not been afraid to sit deep and be more direct against continental opposition, particularly on their travels. Ruggedness was a prominent feature of their quarter-final win against Eintracht Frankfurt and they were set up to do a similar job on Bodø/Glimt. It was not long before Maurizio Mariani, the Italian referee, was warning Vicario about timewasting before a goal-kick.

Bodø/Glimt tried to play with more urgency at the start of the second half. There was encouragement when Jens Petter Hauge flashed a low delivery across the face of goal. Udogie then had to be strong when Fredrik André Bjørkan tried to find Kasper Høgh with a cross towards the far post in the 59th minute.

Spurs were unperturbed. They focused on compressing the space and they were heading for Bilbao when they went ahead with a scrappy goal in the 64th minute. Mathys Tel, who had just replaced Richarlison, delivered a corner from the left, Cristian Romero won the first header and Solanke was free to bundle the ball in from close range.

Reality intruded on Bodø/Glimt’s fairytale, their challenge fading when Porro’s mis-hit cross drifted over and inside his far post. Postecoglou can still make good on his promise about always winning a trophy in his second season.

The Guardian

Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club (7-1 agg): Europa League semi-final, second leg – as it happened

Submitted by daniel on Thu, 08/05/2025 - 18:30

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Aha, Jamie Jackson’s report of another wild Old Trafford European night – it feels very odd to say that unironically – is here.

That being the case, that is us. Thanks for your company and comments, sorry I couldn’t use them all. Peace out.

“It’s hard to describe what it is to be a manager at this kind of club,” he says to finish, “because you want to give something to them,” meaning the fans. “We were so disappointing during the season, so it’s more important to give something to them than to put it on my sheet as a winner. I thin I talk for every player in that dressing room. We want to give something to our fans.”

Having a full squad makes a difference, Amorim continues. You can go back, go forward, change the game. Then, back to Mount, he says he does everything, working hard, eating well, resting, ice bath “and you just want to help him”.

And there’s more! “He is perfect for that position because he can be like a midfielder, he can run like a winger, he can play with hos back to the goal.”

Ruben Amorim is with TNT, telling them he’s “Stressed already, because of the final. If you don’t win it in the end, is nothing.”

Asked about the adulation he’s getting off the fans who’ve stayed behind, he says he feels uncomfortable because he should be a better manager, but United have done “quite well” in Europe, but not the league.

Asked about the subs, he says they gave energy – Mazraoui is tired. Amad, though, gave the spark you need to change the game – in his absence, they’ve had to leave Garnacho on sometimes because he’s the only one with pace in behind.

Amorim is really happy for Mount, who you can tell he really likes – “such a player”, who works really hard and has quality. And he also really likes Mainoo, who only played 10 minutes but kept doing the right thing.

“Can’t say I profess much love for Utd,” confesses Colum Fordham, “but pleased for Mason Mount that he has had a decent match and scored a sumptuous goal to remind everyone what a talented player he is. I’ll be supporting Spurs in the final but have an ominous feeling that Amorim will get his trophy after a disastrous league season. Two less worthy finalists would be hard to find.”

Mount was a mad buy given United’s limited finances – £60m when he was free a year later and a midfield of him, Bruno and Casemiro could never work. But I agree he’s a good – and clever – player, even if I’m not sure he’s a future at United as a first-choice. Also, though United and Spurs are no good, they’ve come through a load of games over the course of a full season to get to the final – and, as I said, United have done it without losing a game. To me that makes them worthy. Still rubbish, but worthy.

“The problem for Man Utd now is that while the Europa League campaign has worked well, the final is a Premier League match,” chuckles Michael Meagher. “That, and the fact it’s the law that Ange wins a trophy in his second season…”

I can’t imagine how much he’ll enjoy reminding the press of that if Spurs win in Bilbao. As he should.

In the Conference League, Chelsea are through the final having beaten Djurgarden 1-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate; in the other semi, Fiorentina have beaten Betis 2-1 on the night to make it 2-2 on aggregate, thus extra time is currently being played.

Meanwhile…

Mount tells TNT it’s been difficult with all the injuries and setbacks, but he knew something good would come. They knew it’d be difficult as the start as Athletic went as them and the goal settled everything.

Back to his injuries, he says he kept working hard in training every day, staying positive and looking to make an impact when getting a chance. It was tight when he and the other subs came on and they tried to calm things down, while seeking to affect the game.

Asked abot his second goal, he saw the keeper come out, said to himself if it comes to him, first tuoch and shoot. He saw the defender was quite far from the goal so thought he could score, and says the first goal was instinct, looking to pinch a yard.

These were his first goals at Old Trafford and it’s a special night, one he’s been waiting for for a long time. Now they want to go back to Bilbao and finish the job.

Spurs have beaten Bodo 2-0 on the night, 5-1 on aggregate. The great Scott Murray has all the reaction.

There are final places to play for now, and the way tonight went, I wonder if Amorim will think about a change in personnel. United were so much better once they started to play – in this team, Bruno is better deeper because no one else can pass through midfield as he can, while Amad gives them a proactive mischief that’s missed in his absence, and Mount knowhow, composure and a goalscoring instinct.

We started the night talking about Wilderness Years classics, and this was indubitably that – incompetence and excellence in outrageous, unexpected quantities.

FULL TIME: Manchester United (7) 4-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao

United will play Spurs in the Europa League final! Wednesday 21 May, Bilbao, Spain!

WHAT A GOAL! Manchester United (7) 4-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Mount 90+1)

AND WHAT A CAMEO! A ball into the channel for Hojlund, but again, Agirrezabala is out sharply. This time, though, his clearance picks out Mount, 10 yards inside the Athletic half, he takes down with his right foot then lashes a left-footer into the unguarded net. My days, he’s earned this elation.

Updated at 00.38 CEST

Updated at 22.49 CEST

And yet winning this trophy is massively important to both these clubs. Spurs will take anything, while it’d supercharge the pace of United’s rebuild. I hope the Bilbao dressing rooms have lots of toilets, because these players will be bricking it.

GOAL! Manchester United (6) 3-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Hojlund 85)

Yoro’s been superb in the second half of the second half and he again lanks froward, this time finding Dorgu who moves on to Amad. He jinks down the outside of his man, conjuring space where there appeared to be none and somehow catching up with the ball to cut back; Hojlund taps home from inside the six-yard box. What was all the fuss about?

Updated at 22.50 CEST

GOAL! Manchester United (5) 2-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Casemiro 80)

Bruno puts it into an area, swinging to the near post, Casemiro dashes from the middle into the space, and a perfect shoulder-glance sends the ball into the far side-netting and United into the Europa League final! He aged about 30 years during the final suspension of his first season in England, but he’s been at the biohacking and has been superb in this competition.

Updated at 22.44 CEST

GOAL! Manchester United (4) 1-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao

This is a lovely goal! First, Amad – always up to something – nips outside his man, crosses, and the ball is too high for Mount, skidding off his head. But United sustain the attack, Yoro injecting pace with a dart into the box before squaring for Mount who turns with a lovely little Cruyff, then curls low into the far corner – think Machedaaaaaaaaa – and what a moment that is for him. He was almost in tears when he was taken off with his most recent injury, the last three years of his career amounting to almost nothing. But he’s enjoying himself now!

Updated at 22.36 CEST

Updated at 22.21 CEST

The Guardian

Bodø/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (1-5 agg): Europa League semi-final, second leg – as it happened

Submitted by daniel on Thu, 08/05/2025 - 18:30

(1) Bodø/Glimt v Tottenham Hotspur: Europa League semi-final, second leg – live - The Guardian

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Jacob Steinberg was our friend in the north. Here’s his report. Congratulations to Spurs, commiserations to Bodø/Glimt. Thanks for reading this MBM.

Ange Postecoglou talks to TNT Sports. “Couldn’t be prouder of the lads … we knew it was a difficult place to come … their record … the pitch … the lads handled it really well … fully deserved to get through … we’re excited, were in a final … we’ve grown in maturity through this competition … the lads understand what’s required … focused … clear minds … we’ve used every player in the squad … we’re used to dealing with adversity … they’ve handled all three knockout ties well … you understand the context of what this club has been trying to achieve for a while … managers and players come and go but one constant is the supporters … it was just great to see the smiles on their faces … we’ve given them some hope, something to dream about … hopefully we can do something special … we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing.”

Dominic Solanke, all mellow smiles, speaks to TNT. “Aw it’s so good, man! … it’s been a long season … we’re down to the business end … one more game to go … hopefully we can do it … we knew it was going to be a difficult game … we had to play disciplined … it took a while but when we got the first goal, it was good to see it out from there … hopefully the same fans can make it to Bilbao … it will be a special day.”

A thrilled Pedro Porro adds: “I’m very happy for the team and these fans … it’s been too long … this team deserves this … I’ll be honest [he laughs infectiously] … I crossed … but it’s goal … the clean sheet is the most important … a clean sheet and we were in the final.”

The goalscoring heroes embrace gleefully, then Porro races off to punch the sky in front of the travelling support. Lovely scenes.

Tottenham reel around in celebration. They’re one win away from their first trophy in 17 years (the 2008 League Cup) and their first European pot in 41 (the 1984 Uefa Cup)! But that’s a consideration for another day. For now, it’s time to celebrate. Big Ange raises two fists in triumph. His players wheel off towards their support. It’s party time! Who cares if the rain’s coming down in stair-rods?! A good portion of the Bodø fans stay to watch the celebrations, too, which is a nice touch. It’s been an appalling season for Spurs on the whole, but suddenly things look so much brighter. Their place in the final thoroughly deserved after a pair of staunch, calm and professional away performances (worth reading that again) in Frankfurt and now the Arctic Circle!

FULL TIME: Bodø/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (agg 1-5)

Spurs will play Manchester United in Bilbao in two weeks’ time! Ange Postecoglou says he always wins a trophy in his second season. Well, he’s one match away from keeping his promise!

VAR: Penalty overturned

Penalty for Bodø/Glimt!

Updated at 22.50 CEST

GOAL! Bodø/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Porro 69); agg 1-5

Tel and Udogie combine at pace down the left. The ball’s switched towards Porro on the right flank. Porro crosses deep … and the ball loops over Haikin, off the top of the left-hand post, and in! It’s an outrageous fluke – of course it was a cross, not a shot – but nobody cares! Not a jot! Not least Porro, who is delighted. Spurs on the way to Bilbao!

Updated at 22.32 CEST

GOAL! Bodø/Glimt 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Solakne 63); agg 1-4

Porro hits the corner long from the left. Romero wins a towering header at the far stick. The ball drops to Solanke, who stabs home from six yards! Solanke celebrates wildly, and Spurs edge ever closer to the final!

Updated at 22.31 CEST

Updated at 22.18 CEST

… but it’s a false start. Spurs kick off again.

Spurs get the second half started. No changes.

Half-time postbag. “If I managed a club, especially a rich one like Arsenal,” begins Zach Neeley, having read the half-time entertainment, “I’d have them make me a fake press room in between the real one and the locker room so I could go rant about the injustice! How good my guys played! Other emotion processing nonsense! So I’d be at peace by the time I said the things written down forever and heard by millions.”

You want to get yourself down to the patent office quicksmart, Zach, for this is a doozy. Nearly as good as my idea for soundproofed primal-scream-therapy pods to be placed around golf courses. I’ve not managed to get the paperwork sorted for that yet either.

In the other semi-final, Athletic Bilbao have taken a 1-0 lead into half-time at Old Trafford. They’re still two goals shy of embarrassing their hosts, though, and as things stand, it’s going to be Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United at San Mamés in two weeks’ time.

Half-time entertainment. Aka: North London Schadenfreude Corner.

HALF TIME: Bodø/Glimt 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (agg 1-3)

Bodø keeper Haikin has had one save to make; his opposite number Vicario the same. Spurs will take this. Same again, and they’ll be heading to Bilbao!

Updated at 21.46 CEST

Updated at 21.38 CEST

The Guardian

Spurs and Postecoglou face moment of truth on Bodø/Glimt’s plastic pitch

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 07/05/2025 - 21:02

European football has provided Tottenham with a sanctuary during this most confusing of seasons. Their Premier League campaign has been a disaster but they have turned into a different team against continental opposition. They have veered away from the wilder excesses of Angeball during their run to the Europa League semi-finals – their quarter-final win over Eintracht Frankfurt was achieved with a crafty, gritty performance in the second leg – and silverware will be within reach for the first time since 2008 if they can hold their nerve at the Aspmyra Stadium.

Freeze in the Arctic Circle, though, and the ice that Ange Postecoglou has been skating on since January will finally crack. This is the moment to move away from the modern Tottenham’s history to sort of dare, not quite do and fall short when the pressure rises. Postecoglou has railed against the club’s reputation as loveable losers but defeat against Bodø/Glimt could see him out of a job by Friday morning. He must ensure his players are equipped for the unorthodox test posed by Kjetil Knutsen’s team. Injuries have been the theme of Spurs’ season but they have to overcome the blow of two more befalling their two most in-form midfielders, Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison, just when they were needed most.

It will not be easy without Bergvall and Maddison, who has been ruled out for three months after limping off with a knee injury at the end of last week’s first leg. This tie remains alive thanks to Ulrik Saltnes pulling back a late goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Bodø back themselves to fight back from 3-1 down. They have key players back from suspension and are potent at their tiny stadium, with its artificial pitch and biting conditions. Lazio and Olympiakos have lost here this season and Postecoglou witnessed the Norwegian side’s ability to punch above their weight when they beat his Celtic side three years ago.

Bodø/Glimt know Spurs struggled on a plastic pitch when they beat Tamworth in the FA Cup this season. The north Londoners got a feel for the Aspmyra’s surface when they trained on it on Wednesday night. Knutsen, meanwhile, has criticised Fredrik Sjøvold, the Bodø right-back, for saying that it is easy to play through the Spurs press. “That’s OK,” Postecoglou said. “There’s a game tomorrow and all those things will be answered.”

Time for action, then. Spurs coped after losing Bergvall to an ankle injury before the first leg. The recalled Yves Bissouma formed an effective shield with Rodrigo Bentancur in defensive midfield. Maddison directed play and a physical front three of Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson combined well.

But Spurs got worse after being forced to take off Maddison and Solanke, who has since recovered from a minor thigh complaint. Underwhelming at the start of the season, Maddison has knuckled down in recent weeks and excelled in Europe. His line-breaking runs from deep have disrupted defences and his creative spark has returned. Bergvall, meanwhile, has caught the eye with his dynamism and ability to carry the ball.

The question is whether Spurs will be able to keep possession well enough without such a key duo. If not, the pressure from Bodø/Glimt could become too much. Postecoglou, who is also without his captain Son Heung-min in attack, needs Dejan Kulusevski to step up. The Swede was Spurs’ best player before Christmas, so much so that he often took Maddison’s central role, but he has struggled for sharpness since returning from a foot injury and looked off the pace in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham.

This is no time for excuses. Spurs have heard all the jibes about their mental fragility. Postecoglou’s response is to build a siege mentality. He laughed about the former Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, suggesting that the winner of the Europa League should not qualify for the Champions League.

“Spurs does crazy things to people,” Postecoglou said, leaning into his argument that his side are held to harsher standards than their rivals. “You put that club into any sentence and invariably they all try and diminish us as much as they can.” There is no better place to silence the critics than in unforgiving surroundings in northern Norway.

The Guardian

Norwegian fan trades five kilos of fish for ticket to Bodø/Glimt v Tottenham

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 07/05/2025 - 10:28

A Norwegian bartered five kilos of semi-dried fish for a ticket to Thursday’s semi-final clash between Bodø/Glimt and Tottenham in the Arctic Circle, as the hosts aim to become the first Norwegian club to reach a European final.

Some 50,000 fans were vying for just 480 remaining tickets to the second leg of Bodø/Glimt’s Europa League semi-final.

After missing out, Torbjorn Eide, a production manager at a fish farm in Senja, offered five kilos of boknafisk, a Norwegian delicacy worth nearly 2,500 Norwegian crowns (£182), in exchange for a ticket.

“We produce Norway’s best boknafisk, and you probably can’t get it in Bodø city. So I thought maybe someone would want it,” Eide told Norway’s state-run broadcaster NRK on Tuesday.

Oystein Aanes, who had a spare ticket because his brother couldn’t make the game, took the bait. “It was just a fun thing,” Aanes told NRK.

Inspired by the deal, Nils Erik Oskal decided to try his luck with five kilos of reindeer meat. “Someone took the bait. It didn’t take long,” he said. Oskal’s trade could be worth about 1,000 Norwegian crowns. “But that doesn’t matter, I get to experience something huge,” Oskal said.

The Guardian

Spurs’ trip to Villa moved to help them prepare for possible Europa League final

Submitted by daniel on Tue, 06/05/2025 - 12:07

Tottenham’s Premier League visit to Aston Villa has been brought forward by 48 hours in order to help them prepare for a Europa League final they have not reached yet. Spurs were originally scheduled to visit Villa on 18 May but the encounter will now take place on 16 May after the Premier League accepted a rescheduling request from the club.

The Europa League final takes place in Bilbao on 21 May. Spurs lead Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt 3-1 after the first leg of their semi-final last Thursday and so are perhaps right to feel confident about progressing to what would be their first major European final in six years. However, Bodø/Glimt go into the return encounter on Thursday buoyed up by the late goal they scored through Ulrik Saltnes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will no doubt be roared on by a raucous crowd at their own home, the Aspmyra Stadion, located in the Arctic Circle.

It is believed Villa were prepared to challenge the Premier League if it agreed to Spurs’ request for what will be their final home game of the season to be moved, but there was no mention of one in a statement released on Tuesday confirming the new date. There has been no precedent for the Premier League moving games to benefit clubs playing in Europe and Villa had a rearranged Premier League fixture against Liverpool shoehorned into a midweek that they thought would be free after avoiding a playoff round in the Champions League.

The Guardian

David Squires on … Arsenal and Spurs acclimatising for season-defining trips

Submitted by daniel on Tue, 06/05/2025 - 11:10

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