Premier League

Ahead of Wednesday's all-Premier League UEFA Europa League final, football writer Adrian Clarke takes a closer look at some of the key areas where the match could be decided.

Match analysis: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United

Spurs and Man Utd will put their nightmare domestic campaigns to one side in Bilbao on Wednesday evening in one of the biggest crossroads matches we have seen in years.

The winner will save their season by lifting a major trophy and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

The loser will return to England with nothing but bad memories from a disastrous 2024/25.

Will Spurs ditch 'Ange ball' in Bilbao?

Spurs' journey to the final has borne witness to an unexpected tactical transformation from Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian is famously stubborn whenever questioned over his footballing ideology, but made a surprise U-turn in a bid to reach the final.

Postecoglou effectively ditched his attacking, possession-based approach, swapping it for a cautious low block and direct counter-attacking style of play, to successfully navigate Spurs' way past Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt with game plans that were previously alien to him.

Spurs limited two strong opponents to very little in the way of clear-cut opportunities by being compact and controlled.

Postecoglou's side enjoyed their lowest-ever possession figure under him - just 31.6 per cent - in what could have been a hazardous second leg on an artificial pitch, while also recording their lowest Expected Goals Against (xGA) in an away game (0.26) during his tenure.

Spurs' 2024/25 Europa League stats

Possession % xGA PL average 55.25% 1.68 Bodo/Glimt (H) 41.14% 0.26 Bodo/Glint (A) 31.16% 0.43 Eintracht Frankfurt (A) 36.60% 0.91

Spurs did beat Man Utd 1-0 when they last met in February, claiming a 55.7 per cent share of possession, but with so much at stake on Spanish soil, it feels more likely the north Londoners will continue with this unforeseen pragmatism.

Boosted by their best back five

One other noticeable factor, aside from Postecoglou’s strategic restraint, was that he was able to name his first-choice back five in both legs of the Europa League quarter and semi-finals.

When Guglielmo Vicario has Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie ahead of him, Spurs always look more solid.

The sight of this quintet starting together in Bilbao will offer supporters reassurance, not least because their track record is impressive.

In all competitions this season, these five players have been named in the starting XI on only 12 occasions, winning seven times.

The win percentage leaps from 40.9 to 58.9 per cent when they play together, and the goals against column is significantly healthier.

Spurs let in 0.8 goals a game with this unit in place, compared to 1.6 if at least one of them is missing from the start.

Spurs' win rate with and without best back five

With all five starting With some starting Without all five starting Matches 12 44 2 Wins 7 18 0 Draws 2 6 0 Lost 3 20 2 Goals for 24 79 0 Ave. goals for 2.0 1.8 0 Goals conc. 10 69 6 Ave. goals against 0.8 1.6 3.0 Win % 58.3% 40.9% 0%

Fernandes is Man Utd's talisman

No player in Europa League history has made as many assists (19) or direct goal involvements (46) as Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese playmaker loves this competition, and particularly the latter stages.

He has created more chances than anyone else in the Europa League knockout rounds, with 32 goal involvements from 33 appearances after the group stage.

Fernandes can be relied upon to deliver big moments in the matches that matter most and could be the most influential player on the pitch on Wednesday.

Fernandes' stats in Europa League knockout rounds

Total Rank Goals 19 =2nd Assists 13 1st Goal involvements 32 1st Total chances created 94 1st Chances created from open-play 66 2nd

Where will Fernandes fit in?

It is probable that Fernandes will start in central midfield alongside either Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte with Mason Mount – a player well-liked by Ruben Amorim - and Amad now fully fit.

Man Utd have plenty of options for those two attacking midfield berths as Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee are also likely to be available.

Postecoglou will be without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall - Spurs' three most creative midfielders - so their midfield will have more function than flair.

How they handle Fernandes’ craft and attacking ambition is sure to have a major say in the outcome of this final.

A look at these stats from the Premier League will confirm how important he is.

Man Utd attacking stats 24/25

Fernandes Amad Garnacho Chances created 88 47 37 Big chances created 15 7 4 Goals and assists 17 13 8

How have Spurs beaten Man Utd three times in 24/25?

Spurs' fast starts has been the key to three successive victories over Man Utd this season.

Postecoglou’s side have scored inside the opening 15 minutes in each contest and have not trailed for a single second, leading for a remarkable 90.2 per cent of the total game time.

The Red Devils may have to ready themselves for another positive early spell from Spurs, having been caught cold several times already.

Across the three meetings Spurs have created the most openings, and by some distance been the deadlier of the two sides.

Postecoglou will drill the value of driving down the flanks into his players.

In the absence of the guile supplied by Maddison and Kulusevski, Spurs will be more reliant on direct attacks and dynamic running.

If they continue with this new, more pragmatic style of play, you suspect the quality of their quickly constructed attacks will rise in importance.

It is easy to see why Spurs will look to hurt United in this manner when you look at some of the goals they have scored against them this season.

Van de Ven's astonishing mazy run and cross for Brennan Johnson completely undid their opponents early in September's 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

Van de Ven's assist v Man Utd

In the same game Johnson raced down the right before finding Kulusevski with a square ball for Spurs' second goal.

Kulusevski also finished off a move that began with a 2v1 overload on the wide left involving Son Heung-min and Djed Spence in Spurs' 4-3 EFL Cup success.

Spurs will be up against a back three that may on occasion have gaps between the wide centre-backs and wing-backs, so Postecoglou's men will look to power into these areas with the ball at their feet, flashing crosses along the face of goal.

Johnson and Dominic Solanke are two individuals who love to get on the end of these types of situations.

Both are penalty box poachers, as the number of close-range chances - and goals scored - in Premier League action is reflected below.

Solanke v Hojlund

Solanke should be a key man for Postecoglou in this huge game.

He has scored four goals in his last six appearances, as well as three in three outings against Man Utd this season.

Tactically, Solanke’s incessant off-the-ball movement will also be needed to disrupt Man Utd’s back three.

The runs he makes will have to be smart to drag defenders out of position with no obvious No 10 playing off him in close proximity.

Interestingly, the only Premier League forward who makes more off the ball runs per 90 minutes than Solanke, is Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund.

PL forwards with most off-the-ball runs 24/25

Forwards Off-the-ball runs per 90* Rasmus Hojlund (MUN) 35.22 Dominic Solanke (TOT) 34.91 Nicolas Jackson (CHE) 32.01

*Minimum 20 starts

He may have had a tough time in front of goal this season, but Hojlund is a front man that is always on the move.

There is not a great deal to choose between them in terms of conversion rates in league action, with Solanke’s 13.56 per cent just above Hojlund on 12.9 per cent.

Could either be the match winner? Potentially. But with so many other factors at play, this is a crossroads contest that feels incredibly hard to predict.

As Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United prepare to meet in Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final, football writer Ben Bloom looks at just how important the match is for each club.

Spurs and Man Utd's UEFA Europa League showdown is unlike any of the five previous all-English European finals.

Never before have two clubs gone into such a glorious occasion off the back of quite so much struggle.

Separated by just a point in the Premier League standings, Man Utd (39) and Spurs (38) sit above only the three relegated sides in 16th and 17th positions respectively.

For United, a worst ever Premier League finish is a certainty by some considerable margin, while Spurs must rise three places to avoid the same fate.

Between them, the pair have lost 39 and won just 21 league matches this season.

Redemption, in the form of a major European trophy, UEFA Champions League qualification and a hefty financial boost, could scarcely be of greater importance.

The quest for silverware

Spurs fans need no reminding how rare it is to win a trophy. They have lost their last four finals (2018/19 Champions League, 2020/21, 2014/15 and 2008/09 EFL Cup), and have not lifted silverware since beating Chelsea in the 2007/08 EFL Cup final.

The wait is significantly longer in Europe, dating back to a penalty shootout victory over Anderlecht in the 1983/84 UEFA Cup final.

Ange Postecoglou believes winning a trophy could have a major impact both outside and within the club.

“I feel like it could be a turning point in terms of the way the club is perceived but also more how it perceives itself, which is the biggest thing,” he said.

“Because until you do that, irrespective of what else you accomplish, people are always going to say, ‘But you have not won anything.'

“That’s the hurdle this club has to overcome because it’ll always be there. Until you actually do it, then you are fair game for people to say, 'You have always kind of fluffed it on the big stage.' ”

There is no such silverware drought for Man Utd, who lifted the FA Cup last season and EFL Cup the year prior.

Nonetheless, there is a necessity for 20-time English champions to claim regular trophies.

A first European triumph since the 2016/17 Europa League would go some way to alleviating the strain on a team who Ruben Amorim earlier this year dubbed “maybe the worst” in United’s history.

Watch Man Utd set the scene

A Champions League return

Aside from trophy joy, victory will also provide a spot in the Champions League next season.

This season has been one of only five in which United have not featured in Europe’s leading club competition since 1993, while Spurs have been involved five times over the past decade.

The cachet of Champions League football will be vital to both club’s finances, with an estimated £100million at stake through various income streams associated with featuring in the competition.

Inclusion will also help attract the best players as both teams look to overhaul their personnel this summer.

However, Amorim has admitted he is unsure whether his United side are ready for a Champions League return.

Asked if the club’s long-term progress may benefit without midweek football, he said: “That is my feeling. We need more time with the team. We need to arrange a lot of things in Carrington that we need more time to do.”

Managers under scrutiny

At the end of a season marked by underperformance, both Amorim – who only took charge of United in November – and Postecoglou have faced scrutiny over the future of their positions.

Following defeat against West Ham United earlier this month – United’s seventh successive winless Premier League match – Amorim suggested that if next season starts with the same poor form it may be time for “new persons to occupy this space”.

He later clarified: “I am far from quitting. What I am saying is we need to perform this season, and in the future we need to perform, or else they [the executive] will change us.”

Early in this campaign, Postecoglou boldly stated that he always wins a trophy in his second season as a manager.

Indeed, he won the Australian title with both South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and the Japanese league with Yokohama F Marinos. He also won the Scottish Premiership with Celtic and the Asian Cup with Australia - all in his second season or year.

Hitting back at those who have cast doubt over his future, Postecoglou said a Spurs Europa League triumph would “upset a lot of people”.

What would defeat mean?

Given how much is at stake for the winners, defeat in the final for either would be a bitter pill to swallow given their awful domestic season.

“If we don’t win it is going to be really tough,” admitted Amorim. “The patience of the fans and you guys [the media] next year is going to be on the limit.”

Attempting to reset from a lowly league position and no European football is a different prospect entirely to starting 2025/26 as a Champions League side.

Defeat for Spurs would also perpetuate the idea of a club of nearly men.

Amorim has suggested defeat would render an otherwise successful Europa League campaign a “waste of time”.

He said: “My message to the players is we have to win or it doesn’t matter.”

Football writer Alex Keble analyses important wins for Chelsea and Aston Villa in the race for UEFA Champions League football next season, while Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United's focus turns to Wednesday's Europa League final.

It’s going to be a nervy final day.

Of all the things we learnt from Aston Villa’s and Chelsea’s respective wins on Friday night, what came through most clearly was the tension in this race for Champions League football.

Chelsea remain in control – for now – and yet they looked considerably more anxious than Villa, squeezing over the line at Stamford Bridge courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Reece James, whose spin and cross for Marc Cucurella ensured Enzo Maresca’s side have it in their hands.

A win at Nottingham Forest on the final day will do it. Anything less and Villa, who sit just two points off second this evening, can qualify ahead of them.

There is still everything to play for and, thanks to three points for both Chelsea and Villa on Friday night, renewed pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal.

Chelsea’s reliance on full-backs is not a good sign for Forest challenge

This was never going to be an easy game for Chelsea.

Ruben Amorim’s angry response to his side’s 2-0 defeat against West Ham United last weekend ensured Man Utd would turn up here, and they certainly did, a full-strength team pushing Chelsea all the way.

The visitors had their moments, in the first half in particular, when Patrick Dorgu continually found space down the left behind a wayward Pedro Neto. The highlight of this early tactical imbalance saw Harry Maguire rifle a Dorgu cross into the net only for the VAR to find a marginal offside.

Those couple of centimetres could be the difference between Chelsea playing Champions League or Europa League football next season, although on this evidence Forest may give us one final twist.

Maguire’s brilliant hit was by far the most convincing piece of centre-forward play on the match.

Tyrique George, deputising for the suspended Nicolas Jackson, laboured up front on his full Premier League debut, while Rasmus Hojlund was again out-of-sorts for United.

Chelsea will need a better No 9 presence at the City Ground, where Forest have conceded only 15 goals, the joint-fewest in the Premier League alongside Liverpool’s record at Anfield.

Their winner tonight relied upon a wonderful cross from one full-back and a finish from the other, Cucurella. It’s hard to imagine Forest’s defenders losing track of both players in quite the same way.

Cucurella's winner v Man Utd

Villa’s confidence a sign they will take this battle to the end

The task was much simpler for Villa, who faced a much-changed Spurs side clearly more concerned with resting players for the Europa League final.

That wasn’t such a surprise. But what ought to be was the way Spurs went about their business, dropping into a low-block 4-4-2, playing ultra-defensive, counter-attacking football for the very first time under Ange Postecoglou.

There are some pretty big extenuating circumstances here of course, and indeed a low block is a decent way to stunt a Villa team without the line-breaking Youri Tielemans.

Nevertheless, their journey away from dogmatic, kamikaze attacking football was completed here. Spurs held 31 per cent possession, by far their lowest share of the season.

Villa had to work hard to build through Spurs’ defensive shape and credit to Unai Emery for tweaking his tactics after a stilted first half, moving Matty Cash into a back three - stopping Son Heung-min’s dangerous counters down that side - and pulling Morgan Rogers wider.

Rogers helped Villa attack with greater purpose, indirectly leading to their breakthrough.

Elsewhere, Ollie Watkins and Marco Asensio both stood out in a confident display of attacking football that contrasted with what we saw at Chelsea.

For that reason alone, Villa fans can remain confident their team will finish the job at Old Trafford on Sunday – and take advantage of any slip.

That slip could still come from Man City, who need to avoid defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth four days after the FA Cup final to go back above Villa.

Incredibly, not even Arsenal are safe. Indeed if Forest win at West Ham on Sunday, just three points will separate second from seventh.

For neutrals, it should be a hugely entertaining final week. For those with skin in the game, the tension will be almost unbearable.

Man Utd look better prepped for Europa League final despite defeat

Man Utd are winless in eight Premier League matches, their most since 1990. They have now lost 18 in the league, their highest tally since 1973/74.

Those kinds of statistics have been all-too common since Amorim’s appointment, and yet despite the result, the United head coach was relatively pleased with their preparation for Wednesday's Europa League final.

“It was the good things we talked about before the game,” Amorim told Sky Sports, in praise of his team’s performance. “We had some moments, we improved the way we play football, we pressed quite well, we had some chances.

“We had good build up until the last third, but then we missed something.”

There were some sharp passages of football, particularly through a midfield of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, that suggested Amorim’s side can get the better of an injury-hit Spurs midfield.

Postecoglou’s decision to rest so many players makes it difficult to judge their preparation, but it’s fair to say Man Utd showed more tonight than Spurs over the last few matches, even if they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Amad was again lively, reasserting his importance to the Amorim project, while Harry Maguire led commandingly from the back.

These are small victories, minor points. But with the Europa League finalists sat 17th and 16th in the Premier League, any positive signs are worth paying attention to, and right now Man Utd look sharper and more cohesive than Spurs.

After scoring another two goals in Crystal Palace's 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur, Eberechi Eze is one of the Premier League's most in-form players right now.

The England international was in the right place at the right time to score in each half in north London, making it four goals in his last three league matches, ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Because of that ruthless display in front of goal, Alan Shearer, the Premier League's record goalscorer, has named Eze in his Matchweek 36 Team of the Week, alongside Palace team-mates Daniel Munoz and Marc Guehi.

Mark Flekken (Brentford)

"Made some big saves late on as Brentford held on to beat Ipswich Town and boost their hopes of European football next season."

Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)

"A constant threat down the right for Crystal Palace, hitting the crossbar before setting up Eze’s opener."

Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)

"Such an assured display, keeping the Spurs attack quiet while also initiating Palace’s attacks from the back."

Dan Burn (Newcastle)

"A rock again at the heart of the Newcastle defence and popped up with an assist in a huge win over Chelsea in the fight for Champions League spots."

Mats Wieffer (Brighton)

"Is adapting well to his new full-back role, winning several duels, with one leading to him being fouled by Matheus Cunha to win the penalty converted by Danny Welbeck."

Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)

"Made a terrific run from midfield to get on the scoresheet to cap another impressive performance."

Tomas Soucek (West Ham)

"Showed his predatory instincts to tap in for the opener and send West Ham on their way to a first league win at Old Trafford since 2007."

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

"Was involved in both of Nottingham Forest’s goals, heading in the first before producing a sensational cross for Chris Wood to score."

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)

"He was on fire at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, scoring two more goals. He looks unstoppable at the moment."

Eze's second goal v Spurs

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

"Scored a huge goal in the top-five race to become Aston Villa’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League."

Beto (Everton)

"Led the line superbly for Everton and got his goal in a terrific victory at Fulham."

Crystal Palace earned a maiden Premier League double over Tottenham Hotspur as Eberechi Eze’s brace sealed a 2-0 win for the Eagles on Sunday to match their best points total in the competition.

Eze scored either side of the interval for Oliver Glasner’s side, netting in three successive league matches for the first time in his career.

Having had two goals ruled out in the first half, it was third time lucky for Palace on the stroke of half-time when Eze tucked home Daniel Munoz’s cross from close range.

The England winger then led a lightning break three minutes after the break and was on hand to sweep Ismaila Sarr’s cutback beyond Antonin Kinsky.

The result moves Palace on to 49 points, equalling their best tally in the Premier League, while Spurs drop to 17th following their 20th league defeat of the season.

How the match unfolded

Palace dominated the opening exchanges and thought they had edged in front when Sarr tucked home from Munoz’s cross, though the goal was overturned following a VAR review, with Jean-Philippe Mateta offside in the build-up.

The visitors created several chances to take the lead, with Kinsky making a vital save to deny Sarr before Munoz crashed an effort against the crossbar.

Glasner’s team had a second goal ruled out when Maxence Lacroix’s header struck the arm of Marc Guehi before going in, but they finally made the breakthrough in the 45th minute when Munoz raced into the area before squaring for Eze to finish.

Palace picked up where they left off in the second half as Eze doubled his side’s advantage with a confident finish after being set up by Sarr in the 48th minute.

They almost added a third, but Kinsky was on hand to thwart Mateta’s effort from inside the box before substitute Eddie Nketiah saw his shot in second-half stoppage time saved by the Spurs 'keeper.

European hangover for Spurs

Domestic struggles for Spurs but were put on hold in midweek as they clinched a spot in the UEFA Europa League final following a semi-final aggregate victory over Bodo/Glimt.

Ange Postecoglou made eight changes and that contributed to a disjointed first-half display which was low on attacking intent and fluency, with Spurs giving the ball away on numerous occasions and very fortunate to go into half-time just 1-0 behind.

They were indebted to Kinsky, in for the rested Guglielmo Vicario, as the Czech signed in January made several important saves to keep the home side in the contest.

Spurs barely improved after the break however, as they continued to be second-best in all departments and barely carried a threat going forward, with the likes of Mathys Tel isolated and the returning Son Heung-min offering no impact off the bench.

Postecoglou may also be concerned about another injury doubt ahead of the final in Bilbao on 21 May as Dejan Kulusevski limped off before 20 minutes were even on the clock.

Spurs travel to Aston Villa next Friday in their final match before their opportunity to end a 17-year trophy drought in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Perfect preparation for Palace’s FA Cup final

Ahead of kick-off, Glasner believed that continuity within his squad was key for momentum heading into their FA Cup final against Manchester City next Saturday, and that proved to be the case at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Despite the enormity of their encounter next week, Palace remained focused on the task at hand and completely dominated the first half on all fronts.

They aggressively pressed from the front, forcing Spurs into mistakes when in possession while they flooded the flanks, with Munoz especially causing damage down the right-hand side.

Sarr was denied on two occasions while Eze’s deflected strike flashed narrowly wide, and Palace were unfortunate not to be further ahead at the break.

But Eze proved to be the difference with his two goals, and the 26-year-old was at the centre of Palace’s flowing moves, taking his second goal with aplomb after being picked out by Sarr.

This was a fine way for Palace to prepare for one of the biggest games in their history, as they compete in their third FA Cup final against Pep Guardiola’s side next Saturday.

Club reports

Spurs report | Palace report

What the managers said

Ange Postecoglou: "It was disappointing. We never really got into the game and we didn't control it at any time. The issue is making multiple changes, we aren't reacting well to that. If you think we wouldn't have 20 league defeats without being in the final, then I don't know how else to describe it. I'm disappointed. It's clear we're not anywhere near the level we need to be."

Oliver Glasner: "We had so many chances in the first half because of the high line, we expected this. We created so many situations and then you need those players in the box to score the goals. I'm really delighted with the performance, it's good preparation for the FA Cup final. I think we will need to be better than today to beat Man City. It's good to have all our players in the best shape at crunch time."

Remaining PL fixtures

Key facts

Today’s defeat was Spurs’ 24th across all competitions, only losing more matches in a single season in their history in 1991/92 (25 defeats).

Eze’s two goals were his 14th and 15th goal involvements of the Premier League season (seven goals, eight assists), making him only the third Palace player to be involved in 15+ goals in multiple seasons (also 15 in 2023/24), along with Wilfried Zaha (three times) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (twice).

Spurs have conceded the first goal in 11 different home matches in the Premier League this season, their joint-most in a single 38-game season, along with 1998/99.

Spurs have conceded 31 goals at home in the Premier League this season, their most since 2007/08 (34 goals), with this season only their third campaign in the Premier League in which they have conceded 30+ home goals.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has won the Premier League Save of the Month award for April 2025 for his fantastic save to deny Chelsea winger Jadon Sancho.

The Italian showed impressive reflexes and a strong left hand to push Sancho's rising, close-range shot over the crossbar in the 45th minute, to keep the contest level at half-time.

Vicario is the first Spurs goalkeeper to win the Premier League Save of the Month award since it was introduced in 2022/23.

He gives Spurs their first Premier League monthly award win since October 2023, when Ange Postecoglou won the Barclays Manager of the Month award.

Vicario's save topped a shortlist of six of the best across the month. He wins the award after votes from the public were combined with those of a panel of experts.

All three Premier League clubs have progressed through to their respective finals, setting up an all-English UEFA Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and leaving Chelsea the favourites to win the UEFA Conference League.

The parallels between the two sides are striking, setting up a final of monumental significance, as big as Man Utd's penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final or Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Spurs in the same competition in 2019.

"I think it’s quite similar for me and Ange [Postecoglou],” United head coach Ruben Amorim told TNT Sports after the game. “It’s a tough moment. One of us is going to win. It’s going to be a big final.”

For Spurs and Chelsea the task proved relatively straightforward in the end, but for Man Utd it was yet another epic cup game at Old Trafford defined – as it so often seems to be - by tension, nerves, and a spectacular finish.

Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club (agg 7-1)

A dazzling cameo from Mason Mount will be remembered at Old Trafford for years to come.

A Cruyff turn, a brilliant low curling effort into the far corner, and in two touches substitute Mount had put Man Utd into the Europa League final.

His 72nd-minute strike, equalising the tie on the night, was the start of an impressive turnaround that ended, wonderfully, with Mount scoring a 91st-minute strike from the halfway line to complete a 4-1 victory on the night and 7-1 on aggregate.

Fans inside Old Trafford had been starting to worry after Mikel Jauregizar’s opener and some increasingly one-sided football, but a smart triple substitution from Ruben Amorim turned the tide, and by the time Casemiro added a second after 80 minutes Athletic – valiant in defeat – were already beaten.

Rasmus Hojlund’s third goal - a tap-in after great work from Amad with five minutes remaining, scored amid olés from the crowd - was so simple you could be forgiven for thinking this match had been a walk in the park.

It most definitely had not.

Man Utd seemed to be in control of the tie as we approached the half-hour mark, but out of nothing the mood darkened.

After 31 minutes a long punt forward saw the ball drop to Harry Maguire who, after losing the first header, passed the ball carelessly into open grass. Alvaro Djalo’s initial shot was blocked before Mikel Jauregizar fired a wonderful curling effort into the top corner from 20 yards.

Old Trafford was shell-shocked, Amorim began to prowl his dugout like a caged tiger, and all of a sudden the looseness of United’s performance – the pockets of space opening between the lines – felt more like an ominous prelude of things to come.

Athletic raced out of the blocks in the second half, pinning United into their own third to announce their intention to pull off a minor miracle in Manchester.

It wasn’t long before Bruno Fernandes began yelling instructions, before brows furrowed, before messiness crept into their game and Athletic began to ease through the thirds like we were back in late-stage Erik ten Hag.

Enter Mount, the forgotten man.

Injuries have restricted Mount to just 15 starts in all competitions over the last two seasons at United, and so it goes without saying this was the highlight of his United career so far.

It might even launch a revival, a renaissance of the kind this club desperately need; a major trophy, and Champions League qualification, could be transformative for Amorim.

He knows a big summer rebuild is to come and yet with Luke Shaw, Amad, and Mount all impressing off the bench, he will feel renewed confidence this evening that Man Utd’s fringe players can be like new signings next year.

Mount in particular dazzled, revelling in the limelight. His performance in particular left Man Utd fans believing this most bizarre of seasons could end in a major high – and a moment of rebirth.

Amorim, understandably, was a little more apprehensive than Man Utd supporters will feel tonight.

“It’s the least we can do for the fans, for all the support that they gave us in this tough season, and I’m stressed already because of the final, because if you don’t win it, in the end it’s nothing,” Amorim said.

Nothing. That’s what tonight’s instant classic, what Mount’s glorious intervention, will mean if United cannot make the final step.

Bodo/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (agg 1-5)

Spurs coped admirably with the tricky conditions in Norway, carefully swerving a banana skin with a 2-0 victory that put Ange Postecoglou’s side within one win of major silverware, Champions League qualification, and mission accomplished for 2024/25.

It’s an extraordinary situation in which to find themselves considering Spurs’ lacklustre performances in the Premier League, and yet their Europa League campaign continues to showcase a completely different side of this team.

The contrast is stark, and never more so than on Thursday night, when Postecoglou – supposedly wedded to an all-out Plan A – oversaw a competent, battling, and conservative performance on the artificial pitch to deliver a pretty dull game.

Dull is exactly what Spurs wanted.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the lads," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. “We knew it was a difficult place to come… and I think the lads handled it really, really well.

“We’ve grown in maturity through this competition and you can see that the lads understand exactly what’s required.”

And what was required, in the first half, was hard pressing to shut Bodo/Glimt down and limit the hosts to just a couple of half-chances, as well as conjure a few of their own.

In the first half, the visitors pressed very effectively to shut Bodo/Glimt down and limit the hosts to just a couple of half-chances, and indeed conjured a few of their own opportunities by winning the ball high, including a Pedro Porro freekick that was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.

But chances were limited at either end and that continued into the second period – until Dominic Solanke’s 63rd-minute goal, from a Spurs corner, changed the mood.

Bodo/Glimt had to up the tempo and push forward in numbers, but this only created more space for Spurs to counter-attack.

Six minutes after the first, a break fell to Porro on the right wing and his cross looped in off the far post; a stroke of luck, but the sort they had earned with a mature performance few thought this Postecoglou team could deliver.

But they did. Spurs, like Man Utd, sense something special; sense a cup final victory that would completely redefine a disappointing season and – just maybe – launch the team in a whole new direction.

For now, however, Postecoglou is happy just to revel in the moment.

“That’s why we do what we do,” he said. You understand the context of what this football club has been trying to achieve for a while.

“Managers come and go, players come and go, but the one constant is the fans.

“It's just so nice to see the smiles on their faces.”

Chelsea 1-0 Djurgarden (agg 5-1)

You can’t win anything with kids - except maybe the Conference League.

A Chelsea team studded with academy players - including Reggie Walsh, who at 16 years and 200 days old became the youngest player to ever play for Chelsea in Europe - eased past Swedish side Djurgaarden to reach their first European final since they were Champions League winners in 2020/21.

A procession was always expected after the 4-1 first leg victory and, after a slow start, Chelsea duly delivered.

In the 38th minute two straight passes cut Djurgaarden open in the blink of an eye, a surge of energy after what had been a sluggish half seeing Tyrique George play in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to fire a low shot in off the post.

In one play, in two crisp passes, the tie was done.

“We are happy! First step done, job done tonight,” Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports at full-time. “Overall I think it was a good performance with many, many young players.

“It’s almost a second team, so I’m very happy for the young boys and very happy to reach the final.”

Chelsea have strolled through this competition and are now strongly placed to win silverware in Maresca's debut year – which would be good news for a few Premier League clubs.

Football writer Tom Hancock previews the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League semi-final second legs involving Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

All three Premier League clubs in the Europa League and Conference League enter Thursday’s semi-final second legs with leads to protect as they aim to reach the finals of the respective competitions.

There is even a chance of a second all-Premier League Europa League final, six years after the last one, when Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1.

In the Europa League, Manchester United host Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford having cruised to a 3-0 first-leg win, while Tottenham Hotspur head to the north of Norway to take on Bodo/Glimt, who they beat 3-1 in the first leg.

Meanwhile, in the Conference League, Chelsea welcome Djurgarden to Stamford Bridge in a position of strength after thrashing the Swedish side 4-1 in the first leg in Stockholm.

Man Utd (3) v (0) Athletic Bilbao

Following their comfortable 3-0 triumph over 10-man Athletic Bilbao last week, Man Utd remain the only unbeaten team across this season’s UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

United have won five consecutive Europa League home games, most recently coming from 4-2 down to beat Lyon in a 5-4 extra-time thriller in the second leg of the quarter-finals.

Ruben Amorim made wholesale changes for Sunday’s 4-3 Premier League defeat at Brentford, emphasising post-match that the visit of Bilbao was “the most important game” for his side.

"As a club, we need to understand in this moment that we have a big responsibility [to win the Europa League]," the United boss stressed.

The likes of talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes, who bagged a brace in the first leg, and Casemiro, who scored United’s other goal, didn’t feature at all against Brentford, so they should return to the starting line-up with a spring in their step. However, Amorim will definitely be missing Joshua Zirkzee, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

A three-goal lead may look comfortable, but United won’t have forgotten how they blew a two-goal advantage to almost go out to Lyon in the previous round.

Add to that the extra motivation for Athletic Bilbao - whose San Mames Stadium will stage the final - and it’s not yet job done.

But the visitors will be without a number of key players, with Nico and Inaki Williams, as well as top goalscorer Oihan Sancet, not named in the travelling squad due to injury, while centre-back Daniel Vivian is suspended after his straight red card in the first leg.

United are looking to reach their first European final since the 2021, when they were beaten by Villarreal in an epic 11-10 Europa League penalty shootout.

Bodo/Glimt (1) v (3) Spurs

Spurs almost took a 3-0 lead of their own into the second leg of their semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, only for their Norwegian opponents to pull a goal back late on in north London.

Ulrik Saltnes’ strike has left the tie less settled than Ange Postecoglou would like, as they, just like Man Utd, set their sights on a final in which victory would secure Champions League qualification for 2025/26.

This trip to the Arctic Circle town of Bodo, whose entire population could fit inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with plenty of room to spare, promises to be a unique experience for Spurs fans and players alike.

There’s the added quirk of the 8,270-capacity Aspmyra Stadion’s artificial pitch, which Spurs will train on the day before the game.

It’s a surface Postecoglou is familiar with, however. “I’ve been there with Celtic,” he explained. “I know the experience and what is important for us is we need to replicate what we did [in the first leg].”

Spurs have already played on synthetic turf once this season, although they were taken to extra-time by National League club Tamworth before winning their FA Cup third round tie 3-0 back in January.

The two-time UEFA Cup winners are trying to reach their first European final since the 2019 Champions League final, which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.

And they’ll hope to be helped in their mission by the return of some important players for the second leg.

Dominic Solanke, whose penalty put Spurs 3-0 up against Bodo/Glimt last week, “should be right for Thursday” after missing Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at West Ham United, according to Postecoglou. Fellow first leg goalscorer Brennan Johnson should also start after being an unused substitute at the weekend.

But Spurs do look like having to make do without their other goalscorer for the remainder of the season: Postecoglou revealed the prognosis for James Maddison’s knee injury “doesn’t look good”.

Chelsea (4) v (1) Djurgarden

There can be no room for complacency for Chelsea, who lost the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final 2-1 at home to Legia Warsaw after a 3-0 first-leg triumph.

But with a healthy advantage, Enzo Maresca can be very confident of making it to the final in Wroclaw, Poland.

Goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke and a brace by substitute Nicolas Jackson secured a comprehensive 4-1 first-leg win over Djurgarden, and the Blues appear poised to advance to their second European final in five years, after defeating Manchester City 1-0 in 2021’s all-English Champions League final.

Chelsea will be full of confidence after beating newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, keeping them on course for a top-five finish and, as a result, Champions League qualification.

Going all the way in the Conference League would earn the Blues a Europa League spot they may end up not needing, but there’s still the chance to become the first club to win all three current major UEFA competitions.

The Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur has been given a new date of Friday 16 May, kicking off at 19:30 BST.

This is following a request from Spurs in view of their potential participation in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday 21 May.

Additionally, the match between Chelsea and Manchester United, also taking place on Friday 16 May, will now kick off at 20:15 BST.

Both matches remain live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Liverpool clinched their second Premier League title last Sunday following their 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Through a series of captivating photos by Getty Images, we dive into the Reds' incredible journey to becoming 2024/25 champions.

Relive some of the defining moments from their path to becoming champions with four games to spare. From last-gasp winners to dazzling displays and just the raw emotion of a title race, it is all captured below.