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Harry Kane could have some regrets about lifting his first career silverware away from Tottenham.

This is according to former Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who suggested Kane will wish he was part of the club's Europa League-winning celebrations.

Spurs ended their 17-year wait for a major trophy with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, while Kane won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich to land his first ever major honours.

A goal claimed by Brennan Johnson on the stroke of half time was enough to give the north Londoners the perfect ending to a trying season.

Tottenham's first piece of silverware since the 2008 League Cup means they will now play in next season's Champions League, despite currently sitting 17th in the Premier League table.

But there was perhaps a sense of injustice that Kane and Spurs celebrated an end to their respective trophy droughts separately.

Despite a glittering 14-year career with his boyhood club, the England skipper left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having fallen short of major success on several occasions.

Kane twice finished as runner-up in the League Cup, in 2015 and 2021, and as well as losing the Champions League final in 2019.

And while he may now have banished his personal trophy demons in Germany, former Spurs teammate Steven Caulker admitted it seemed harsh that their all-time record goalscorer wasn't part of the European success.

Appearing on talkSPORT alongside Alex Brooker and Charlie Baker, the defender was asked if Kane would have any regrets over joining Bayern, and lifting his first trophy there, instead of with Tottenham.

To this, Caulker replied: "That's a good question.

"I think it would have been nice for him to have done it at Spurs. And he deserved that because he's been so good for so long.

“But it's worked out the way it's worked out. I'm just glad that he's got his trophy because if he didn't, you could imagine the stick he'd be getting now that Spurs have won it without him.

“So, listen, he's been a huge part of Spurs and I'm still hoping that there'll be some kind of reunion in a couple of years from now.“

Despite not being part of Spurs' success, Kane was quick to congratulate his former club on their triumph on social media.

Taking to Instagram, the Bayern goal machine reposted the north Londoners' full-time winners' graphic to his story, commenting: "Congratulations," alongside a white heart emoji.

And he later delivered a touching video message to Tottenham, as he shared his delight at their achievement on his Cleats Club app.

Kane said: “Massive congratulations to Spurs. To all the boys, to the staff, I know how much it means to them.

“It's been a long time coming and [I'm] just buzzing for everyone there. Buzzing for all the fans as well.

England's all-time leading goalscorer then reserved special praise for two of his long-time former teammates, club captain Heung-Min Son, and Ben Davies, who both lifted their first career silverware.

Kane continued: “European champions is a massive, massive achievement, so really proud, obviously for the boys I know well like Sonny and Ben, those boys who have been part of the journey for a long time, they deserve it.

"They deserve to have that moment they had last night, and over the next weeks as well.

“Massive congratulations to everyone involved - it was nerve-wracking watching it, but what an ending so I hope they enjoy it, I hope the fans enjoy it, make the most of it.

“And hopefully that’s the start of many more to come.”

Tottenham's Europa League final display was far from vintage 'Ange-ball' - in fact, it was a defensive performance for the ages.

Spurs ended a 17-year wait for a major trophy with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, with Ange Postecoglou swapping his all-out attacking philosophy for 90 minutes of pragmatism.

The north Londoners showed a totally different side, as they nullified the Red Devils with a resolute, defensive game plan.

After taking the lead through Brennan Johnson on the stroke of half-time, Spurs effectively surrendered possession in the second-half, weathering an onslaught from United to cling on for victory.

There was no shortage of commitment to the cause, with Micky van de Ven denying Rasmus Hojlund with an incredible goal-line clearance, while Guglielmo Vicario made a big save from Luke Shaw late on.

And their display wasn't just outstanding for how far it deviated from the free-flowing football we have come to expect from Postecoglou's side.

Tottenham's uncharacteristic performance saw them register record-lows in several attacking metrics.

They had just three shots, 27.7 per cent possession and completed only 115 passes – all the lowest recorded by Opta, since 2010, for any team in a major European final.

On top of this, in the second half, Spurs had just one touch inside the opposition box, did not manage a shot on or off target, while their possession stood at just 19.8 per cent.

It represented a total shift from the style of play Postecoglou has previously been uncompromising in delivering.

The Australian has long faced criticism for his insistence on a high-pressing, attacking game, with many pointing to his infamous 'It's just who we are, mate," after a 4-1 loss to Chelsea in 2023 where Spurs continued to bomb forward, even with nine men.

But Postecoglou was only too happy to adapt his style against United, who claimed the big occasion called for a different approach.

Speaking after the final win, he said: "I've always felt that knockout football is different from your league football.

"When you're in that situation, it comes down really to good organisation, belief, having a good game plan and then moments; if you can minimise the moments the opposition have by having a really strong foundation.

"I always felt comfortable that if we got ahead, we could negate most of what Manchester United were going to throw at us."

The defensive masterclass means Postecoglou has now delivered on a huge promise he made back in September.

Following a 1-0 loss to rivals Arsenal, the 59-year-old said: "I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed. I don't say things unless I believe them."

It was a statement that threatened to blow up in the Spurs' boss' face, whose side have endured a tough campaign domestically.

Despite languishing in 17th in the Premier League table, Postecoglou's group will now play in the Champions League next season thanks to their third European triumph.

They previously won the competition in 1972 and 1984, when it was known as the UEFA Cup.

Victory also means Spurs will compete in the UEFA Super Cup final against either Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan in Udine in August.

Tottenham will celebrate in style upon their return home after ending their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League.

Ange Postecoglou's side beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao to claim their first piece of European silverware since 1984.

Brennan Johnson's scrappy first-half goal saw Spurs triumph in the San Mames and seal their spot in next year's Champions League.

The Lilywhites, who haven't won any trophy since the 2008 League Cup, conclude their dismal Premier League campaign this weekend.

Tottenham, who have lost 21 English top-flight games so far, return to north London to take on European hopefuls Brighton.

Despite Spurs sitting in 17th, it will be party time in N17, as unlike Man United, the club have already confirmed they will stage a parade.

When is Tottenham's trophy parade?

The 2024/25 Europa League winners have confirmed their victory parade will be held this Friday - May 23.

That is a day after Postecoglou and his players return to England, having stayed overnight following their historic win in Bilbao.

An open-top bus parade is due to get underway at 5:30pm, and is expected to last between an hour and 90 minutes.

The route will start at Edmonton Green, with the bus travelling down Fore Street and the High Road.

It will then continue down Lansdowne Road, along Willoughby Lane and Northumberland Park.

The parade will conclude at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before a presentation with the players, coaching staff, and trophy takes place.

"Dear Neighbour, we hope this finds you well," a Tottenham statement to their local community began.

"As you may be aware, Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday 21st May.

"We should like to make residents, schools and businesses aware that, if we are successful and bring the trophy home to Tottenham, our first team squad will take part in an open-top bus victory parade through the local area on Friday 23rd May, as is customary.

"Should the historic celebratory event go ahead, residents, please take note of the following information:

"The parade will begin at Edmonton Green at 3pm and proceed south down Fore Street and the High Road past the stadium before turning left at Lansdowne Road, along Willoughby Lane and Northumberland Park, finishing at approximately 4.30pm.

"Our players will present the trophy to crowds gathered from a staging area outside the Stadium on the High Road at approximately 5pm."

It isn’t often a manager is hired by Real Madrid after being sacked by Tottenham with the club bottom of the Premier League.

But this was the case for Juande Ramos, who endured a rollercoaster 12-month stint of charge of Spurs, which peaked when he delivered a first major trophy in nine years with League Cup glory in 2008.

As Ange Postecoglou bids to become the first manager to deliver major silverware since the Spaniard, there could be some striking similarities between the pair should he achieve this.

The Australian leads the north Londoners into their Europa League final against Manchester United with his future very much up in the air.

A torrid Premier League campaign sees Spurs 17th in the table, and talkSPORT understands that even European glory may not be enough to keep Postecoglou in the job.

Should he depart having landed silverware, he would follow in the footsteps of both of Tottenham's last trophy-winning managers.

Both Ramos and 1999 League Cup winner George Graham were sacked shortly after ending respective trophy droughts.

And while Graham's sacking spelled the end of his managerial career, it had the opposite effect on Ramos, who arguably went on to land football's dream job.

In December 2008, the well-travelled Spanish coach was named as Real Madrid's new manager, taking charge of a squad filled with superstars including Sergio Ramos, Raul and Fabio Cannavaro.

But this would have looked inconceivable six weeks earlier, when he was shown the door with Spurs bottom of the Premier League.

It drew the curtain on a short but eventful spell at White Hart Lane, which at first promised great things following his appointment in October 2007.

Just four months into his tenure, Ramos delivered a long-awaited trophy when his side beat Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final.

The 2-1 extra-time victory appeared to have secured the former Sevilla boss legend status in north London, especially given that Spurs had battered bitter rivals Arsenal 5-1 to book their spot at Wembley.

But things took a turn for the worse, as an 11th-place finish in thePremier League and a dreadful start to the 2008/09 campaign piled the pressure on Ramos.

During this time, Ramos' brutal training and dietary regime also made the headlines, with the Spaniard banning ketchup, salt and pepper in the canteen.

In fact, his methods were so tough that they left one player in hospital on a drip, according to former Spurs striker Darren Bent.

Ultimately, this was all too much for chairman Daniel Levy, who dismissed the Spaniard with his side at the foot of the league table.

But the disappointment certainly didn't hinder Ramos' job prospects, who secured an immediate return to football when he was surprisingly unveiled by Real Madrid weeks later.

With the Spanish giants sitting a disappointing fifth in the LaLiga table at the time of his appointment, the ex-Spurs boss managed to turn the tide in spectacular fashion.

He brought Los Blancos back into the title race after winning 52 points out of a possible 54 in 18 consecutive games.

Ultimately however, Real fell just short at the end of the season, finishing second in the league, nine points behind champions Barcelona.

And despite steadying the ship at the Santiago Bernabeu, a lack of league success and a 5-0 aggregate exit to Liverpool in the Champions League wasn't enough to earn Ramos an extension on his short-term deal until the end of the season.

This brought to an end a whirlwind period for the 70-year-old, who went on to see out the rest of his managerial career with spells at CSKA Moscow, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Malaga.

Manchester United and Tottenham both have the chance to save their dismal seasons in the Europa League final tonight.

The Premier League rivals are set to meet in Bilbao with major silverware and a big chunk of money on the line.

Ruben Amorim's Man United breezed past Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals, winning 7-1 on aggregate to reach the big game.

The Red Devils were joined in the final on the same night, as Tottenham also eased past their opponents, Bodo/Glimt.

Spurs backed up a 3-1 first leg win with a 2-0 victory and set up an all-English affair in a major European clash.

With both teams sitting 16th and 17th in the Premier League, Amorim and Ange Postecoglou are coming under huge pressure.

But winning the Europa League would save either side's campaign, making this a pivotal night for both clubs and their managers.

And not only will victory bring a much-needed trophy, it will also come with a massive injection of cash...

Europa League prize money

In the Europa League final, Man United and Tottenham will be playing to claim the maximum reward of £10.95million.

That is almost double what the runners-up receive, with the losers in Bilbao taking home a prize of £5.9million.

The prize for winning the UEFA's second-tier tournament is around half of the reward for winning the Champions League.

Champions League winners claim £21.1m, and Inter Milan will face Paris Saint-Germain, with the victor taking home that cash.

Runners-up in Europe's elite competition win £15m, so that's almost triple what one of Man United and Spurs will get.

But progressing through each round of the Europa League has still significantly increased the payout for both United and Spurs.

Every team that made the League Phase received £3.6m each for simply qualifying for that stage of UEFA's second tier.

Each win in the league handed a club £379,201, and each draw would see a reward of £126,400 be given out.

Those that automatically qualified for the knockout rounds received £505,000, while those that saw their journey end in the knockout round play-offs got £252,000.

Prize money then took a big jump for the round of 16, seeing those eliminated in that stage claim £1.47m.

Teams that lost in the quarter-finals took home £2.11m, missing out on an extra chunk by being eliminated.

A semi-final spot saw Man United and Spurs guarantee themselves a sum of £3.54m, but they will now be getting much more in the final.

All of these prizes are just below 40 per cent of the entire Europa League payouts, just focusing on performance-based criteria.

The rest of the money is split between clubs taking part, also taking into account any broadcasting revenue.

Europa League: Road to the final

Quarter-finals

Lazio 3-1 Bodo/Glimt [2-3]

Manchester United 5-4 Lyon [7-6]

Frankfurt 0-1 Tottenham [1-2]

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Rangers [2-0]

Semi-finals

Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Bilbao [7-1]

Bodo/Glimt 0-2 Spurs [1-5]

Final - Wednesday, May 21

Tottenham vs Manchester United

Tottenham’s squad reunited with a former star striker ahead of their massive Europa League final in Bilbao this evening.

But it wasn’t club icon and all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane.

Instead, Spurs’ stars were filmed delightedly greeting ex-forward Fernando Llorente, who met up with the team on Tuesday.

Captain Heung-min Son and Ben Davies were filmed hugging and laughing with the Spaniard, chanting his name together.

Llorente played 66 games for the club, including an appearance off the bench in the last European final Spurs reached - the Champions League final in 2019.

The striker, who is also a legend in Bilbao, played second-fiddle to Kane throughout his Tottenham career, but it’s the other way around for this game.

He’s going to be supporting the club, while their former captain won’t be at the Europa League showpiece, keeping an eye from afar…

Why is Kane not at the Europa League final?

Kane will not be in Bilbao as he’s on holiday.

The Bayern Munich frontman finally ended his long trophy drought this season and is now taking some well-earned time away.

But he found time alongside the celebrations to send a message to his old Spurs teammates, as they look to end their title drought too.

“A bit strange for me to be watching as a fan,” Kane said. "But you know I am wishing them all the best.

"The fans deserve to have that joy, that celebration that they have been waiting for, for a long time now.”

He has been in the minds of his ex-teammates too, as Son, who built a special relationship with Kane on the pitch and off it, has spoken about him leading up to the Europa League final.

In his press conference this week, the Spurs skipper said: "Everybody knows Harry is my best mate.

"It was a huge honour playing alongside him. After he won the first title, we had a chat about his trophy.”

He added: "He is already on holiday, so he doesn't have to text me. I just concentrate myself with the boys.

“Harry will be the biggest Spurs fan tomorrow, I'm definitely sure he will be supporting us from holiday."

The Europa League final will kick off at 8pm this evening at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.

talkSPORT will have live coverage of the game from Spain, presented by Adrian Durham.

Commentary will be provided by Jim Proudfoot and former England striker Dean Ashton.

talkSPORT.com will also be on hand for all the latest news and build-up, including a live match blog for all the updates on the night.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham tenure will be defined by a statement that has served as the backdrop to tonight's Europa League final.

“Usually in my second season I win things,” the Spurs boss boldly stated ahead of the first match of his second campaign in charge.

Speaking in August, Postecoglou added: “That’s the whole idea. The first year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully, the second year is going on to win things.”

A month later, following a 1-0 home defeat in September by north London rivals Arsenal, the Australian doubled down on his claim.

“I’ll correct myself — I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year, nothing’s changed,” he reiterated to Sky post-match. “I’ve said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”

That narrative has continued to be levied at Postecoglou throughout what has been a historically poor season for Spurs.

Tottenham languish 17th in the Premier League table and are on course to finish in their lowest position since the Premier League's inception in 1992, having already broken their record for most top-flight defeats in a single season with their lowest points total.

The Lilywhites crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Liverpool in the semi-finals, before Aston Villa ended their FA Cup dreams.

Spurs haven't won a trophy since 2008, but Postecoglou has experience of ending decade-long droughts of winning silverware.

The 59-year-old knows that success in the Europa League final is the club's last hope of having the last laugh...

Has Postecoglou won a trophy every second year?

Yes, the Ange mythology is based on facts, with the Aussie winning in his second season or second full season in charge of his various clubs.

Since breaking into top-flight professional management in 2009, Postecoglou has won titles in his homeland, Asia, and Scotland.

However, his first taste of success as a manager came at his boyhood club, South Melbourne, where he spent nine years as a player.

Postecoglou steered his side to the league title in his second season before spending seven years coaching Australia's youth teams.

Postecoglou then had brief spells at Greek side Panachaiki (nine months) and Australian outfit Whittlesea Zebras (three months).

Neither role lasted until the second season, but he bounced back in style upon his move to Brisbane Roar in 2009.

Following a second-bottom finish in his debut campaign, Postecoglou stormed to A-League Championship glory during the 2010/11 term.

He retained their title the following year before having 18 months at Melbourne Victory, where he failed to see out his second season.

Postecoglou was appointed Australia's national team boss at the end of 2013, with his first match at the helm being that November.

The Socceroos finished bottom of their 2014 World Cup group, but by January 2015, he'd masterminded Asian Cup glory on home soil.

Three years later, Postecoglou made the move to Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos, and a second-season league title followed.

Postecoglou came to Celtic in June 2021 with the backdrop of Steven Gerrard having guided an Invincible Rangers to the SPFL title.

Unlike previous positions, he did not need two seasons before winning, as the Bhoys won five trophies in his two years at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur fans are already dreaming of ending their 17-year trophy drought - and two award-winning musicians have added to their excitement.

With Spurs preparing for their Europa League final against Manchester United on Wednesday night - live on talkSPORT - two supporters have created an anthem that could soon become part of the club's folklore.

Songwriter and record producers Paul Epworth and Jimmy Napes have combined together to release a song titled 'To Dare Is To Do' - the same name as Spurs' motto.

The duo have won a whopping nine Grammy awards between them [six for Epworth, three for Napes].

Meanwhile, the pair have each scooped an Academy award [Oscar] as well as a Golden Globe for their part in two of James Bond's iconic opening songs.

Epworth worked alongside Adele for her rendition of 'Skyfall' for the 2012 movie of the same name, while Napes collaborated with Sam Smith for 'Writing's on the Wall' for the film 'Spectre' three years later.

And now the duo have worked together to release a Spurs-inspired song that they hope will rival anthems such as Chas & Dave's 'Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur,' 'Ossie's Dream,' and 'Hot Shot Tottenham'.

Tottenham-supporting choir members supply the main vocals for the track along with the help of 27 children from the Epworth and Napes' own children's schools.

The pair appeared on talkSPORT's Hawksbee and Baker show to discuss their new song, which is now available on all major platforms.

Commenting on the track, Epworth was quick to comment on them being the modern-day Chas & Dave, as he joked: "We did think about calling it Jimmy and Paul, because it had a bit of a ring to it."

Napes then quipped: "Yeah, the new Chas & Dave."

Describing how the song came about, Napes said: "We went to the pub, actually, a few years ago and just having a chat, because we obviously both work in music.

"We were like, 'Maybe we should do something together.' We talked about various artists that we're working with. We were like, 'No, sod that, let's write a song for Tottenham.'

Interjecting, Epworth then remarked: "And you were kind of joking. I was like, 'Yeah, we sort of need a new song.' And I was like, 'What would you call it?' He went, 'To Dare Is To Do?' and I was like, 'Ahh, we're in.'

"Ten minutes later and with three pints, we had half the lyrics and then ditched most of them, but we sort of realised there was legs in it.

"You can rhyme To Dare Is To Do with 1882 [the year Tottenham were founded], we're off and away!"

Attention then turned to Spurs' north London rivals Arsenal, who have adopted Louis Dunford's 'The Angel' as their unofficial anthem, where it has been played before every home match starting from the closing stages of the 2021/22 season.

Discussing the song, Epworth said, 'Well that is the bar,' with Napes then stating: "To get the song played before the games and have all other fans berate it and say how rubbish it is - that's the bar!'"

Explaining why they have written the song, Napes then said: "I just think it's important to do what you love, really, and I love Tottenham, so I just thought we'd make a love letter to Tottenham.

"Thought it would be fun, and like, wherever anything comes of it now, we'll recommend it."

Jumping in, Epworth pointed out that the writing process begun during the early stages of Ange Postecoglou's Spurs career which begun in 2023 - and was only finished earlier this month,

He remarked: "We did start it, I think it was during the early days of Ange's tenure at the club, and we were winning all the time.

"We thought, 'Let's write a song for Tottenham, everything's going the right direction,' and then, kind of, gradually, the wheels came off.

"So we sort of sat on the hard drive for a bit, and we were like, 'Should we finish that song?' and he was like, 'Yeah maybe later,' and about two weeks ago, we were like, 'Better finish that song.'"

Epworth then insisted how he hopes Spurs-mad Adele will be signing along to it in the future, while declaring how he wishes the song resonates with the Tottenham fanbase.

He said: "Maybe she'll sing it one day, I don't know, you hope that. I think our main thing was that we wanted to write something that the fans loved nd they wanted to sing it for themselves.

"And actually they felt it in their hearts and it actually would mean something and hopefully we've done the job."

Highlighting how they have set themselves up for disappointment, Napes then stated: "It's also not lost on me how brave this is to put this out ahead of the game, so let's see where we get to!

"We need the team to do the business as well."

The Europa League final is live on talkSPORT from 8pm on 21 May

Tottenham Hotspur's trophy drought sits at an agonising seventeen years.

For a club of their stature, it has become an easy stick for rival fans to beat them with.

The fact Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Swansea City and even Wigan Athletic have won major trophies in that time has rubbed extra salt into the wounds.

It's not to say Tottenham haven't had chances to add silverware as they've accrued four runners-up medals since their 2008 League Cup triumph over rivals Chelsea.

Ange Postecoglou's side will look to avoid increasing the runners-up medal tally to five when they take on Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday.

Purely on reputation, it would be billed as a heavyweight clash and in many respects, it still is.

But both sides have floundered in the Premier League this term as Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim have set embarrassing new lows throughout.

Yet Wednesday gives the two managers one final chance to make something out of an otherwise-dismal campaign for their respective sides.

It goes without saying what a victory in Bilbao would do for Tottenham.

However, speaking on talkSPORT's Trans Euro Express, journalist Andy Brassell does not believe a win for Postecoglou's side would trump the significance of a similar result for United.

"It feels to me, actually, that winning this game is more important for United," Brassell said.

"I can see the route to Spurs getting better quite quickly. Even if there are problems at the club, even if I have doubts over the coach, I don't think they're a million miles away from being able to improve.

"For United, I think they've got so much work to do, an incredible amount of work to do.

"I don't even know if Amorim is going to be the person to do it, because it's clear he's getting more and more frustrated.

"But they need this Champions League, they need the money, they need to be able to pull players of repute because that squad needs one heck of a turnover."

One factor in Postecoglou's favour is he is yet to lose to United since he took over as Tottenham boss.

The Australian boasts four victories and one draw against the Red Devils in all competitions, with their latest encounter ending in a 1-0 win for Tottenham.

However, Postecoglou will enter Wednesday's final with a serious midfield conundrum on his hands.

Postecoglou appears to have found success using a double pivot in midfield, where Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur are expected to feature against United.

But questions remain regarding who will fill the void as the attacking midfielder.

James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall will play no part, nor will Dejan Kulusevski who had been earmarked for an advanced midfield role but has since undergone knee surgery.

Pape Matar Sarr is an option, although he is more comfortable in a less attacking role.

Wilson Odobert showed promise in the position during Tottenham's 2-0 loss against Aston Villa last Friday, but he is far more accustomed to life on the wing.

Brassell believed Sarr to be 'the safest bet', even if he has high praise for Odobert.

"I think if you wind back to AZ in the last 16, I thought Odobert was brilliant in the second leg," Brassell said.

"But I just think sticking him in a position that's not out wide, I think is a bit of a risk.

"Sarr's ability to break into the box gives you something else to play with as well.

"I don't think there's any right answer and I don't think there's an enormous amount of options, which I guess feeds into the Postecolgou narrative of how hard done by he's been this season."

Regardless of who gets the nod, they will have an almighty task in limiting the effectiveness of their opposite number, Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese star has been an ever-present for United this season and one of their few shining lights, having accrued an impressive 19 goals and 19 assists from 55 appearances in all competitions.

Put simply, Spurs do not have a player available who can turn a contest on its head quite like Fernandes.

It is the reason why Brassell feels slightly inclined to favour the Red Devils to land silverware for a third season on the bounce as he explained the unique situation behind Fernandes' success at Old Trafford.

"If that's why I'm going to lean slightly towards Manchester United, that would be why," Brassell said.

"I don't think it's impossible for Tottenham, at all. But I think the Bruno Fernandes factor is huge.

"United have not dragged him down in the way they have dragged others down.

"But why Bruno Fernandes works so well for Manchester United is because he likes to run a team.

"Because they didn't really have a plan or a strategy when he came in, and the plan was to let Bruno run the team, he got to play exactly how he was playing at Sporting before. There was no tactical nuance to it.

"That's what he's done for most of the time he's been there, which is why he's been exceptionally successful."

Yet for all of Fernandes' evident brilliance, Postecoglou has found a way to nullify him on five separate occasions.

If he can do it for a sixth, the Australian's claim he 'always' wins things in his second season may very well remain blissfully intact.

Man United and Spurs legends give Europa League final verdict

Former Manchester United defender John O'Shea knows a thing or two about what it takes to win silverware.

After all, the Irishman picked up an impressive 14 trophies in his time at Old Trafford.

Yet O'Shea believes the importance of securing Champions League qualification may outweigh the value of a trophy for United, especially given the riches associated with a spot in Europe's marquee club competition.

"Not only do you win a European trophy, which the club has been synonymous with, but it's the build-up for what it leads up to for next season," O'Shea told talkSPORT.

"Listen, it won' t be a feel-good factor, far from it, from either team's point of view. But when you win silverware, it's huge for any club.

"You can argue the different tournaments, but that's the tournament you're in. You get Champions League qualification from it, you do all you can to win it."

O'Shea added victory on Wednesday would 'be a crumb of comfort' for United's suffering supporters, but was also not oblivious to the fact there's 'lots of work to do' going forward.

His international teammate Paul McShane, who came through United's academy and now coaches the Red Devils' Under-15s, echoed a similar sentiment.

"With the season that the first team has had, it's been poor. There's no denying that." McShane told talkSPORT.

"There's a chance to resurrect it a little bit with the game on Wednesday.

"Spurs are in a similar situation, so it's going to be a very interesting game. It's big for the club, it's big financially."

McShane even claimed United may have 'hit rock bottom', but felt it was a necessary pain to endure in order to progress.

"It's been a crazy season," McShane said.

"No-one expected the team to finish as low as they have. It's clear to see there's a few issues and it needs sorting.

"I think you have to hit rock bottom before you go up again. I'm guessing this is pretty much rock bottom for the club.

"But there is a chance, there's a European final and the fans will be excited about it. They'll be desperate for any bit of success now."

Wayne Routledge, who was on Tottenham's books from 2005 to 2008, was reluctant to lean one way or the other regarding who he thought would win Wednesday's final.

However, the 40-year-old pointed out how a spot in the Champions League for United would be 'huge'.

"I think they both need it to be honest, to save their season," Routledge told talkSPORT.

"I think it's pretty evident a trophy might paper over some cracks. I think it's very difficult to say which team needs it more."

Routledge added: "I think you have to look at the other side of it. Manchester United will be in the middle of a massive rebuild.

"To be playing Champions League will be huge for them. May the best team win."

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur fans were seen brawling in the streets ahead of the Europa League final in Bilbao.

Around 70,000 football fans are thought to have travelled from England to Spain ahead of the showpiece event.

And while most are on their best behaviour after finding any means necessary to make the occasion, a shameful minority have gone viral online after violence in the streets.

Shocking footage captured by local residents shows the two fanbases fighting on a narrow street, throwing missiles at each other.

That soon escalated into punches thrown as the distance was closed.

It is understood local police rushed to the scene to restore order, although no arrests were made and nobody was left with serious injuries.

This has caused frustration online as some users on social media platform X described the fight as a ‘national embarrassment’.

Others named the supporters ‘idiots’ and ‘scumbags’ for disrespecting the City of Bilbao.

Emotions are running high as Tottenham and Man United have the opportunity to correct a poor domestic season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side sit 17th in the Premier League and have lost 25 matches in all competitions this season, their joint-highest number of defeats in a single campaign in their history along with 1991/92.

Even if Tottenham lift the European trophy, talkSPORT understands that Postecoglou is not guaranteed to remain at the club.

Despite the speculation the Australian remains confident as confirmed by himself during the pre-match press conference.

“My future is assured mate,” he said. “I wouldn't be the first person who changes jobs mate, we all change jobs, I'm sure you've had more than one job.

“My future's assured. I've got a beautiful family, I've got a great life, I'll keep on winning trophies until I finish, wherever that is.

“So, don't worry about my future, mate. My future is not tied with anything, my future is assured.”

This is also an opportunity to end Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought.

They came close in 2019 but lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League final.

Man United, despite a rough few seasons, have continued to pick up silverware with two FA Cups, two Carabao Cups and a Europa League title in the last decade.

Ruben Amorim’s team sit 16th and have conceded defeat in 18 league matches, their most in a season since losing 20 in 1973/74 - the last time they were relegated.

What Man United fans will be keen to forget is that Tottenham have beaten the Red Devils all three times they have played each other this season.

In September Spurs thrashed Man United 3-0 but the two following matches were a much closer contest, finishing 4-3 and 1-0.