The Sun

DEJAN KULUSEVSKI has been ruled out of the Europa League final after undergoing knee surgery - leaving Tottenham with a midfield crisis.

Swede Kulusevski hobbled off in the 19th minute of Sunday’s 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace with an injury to his right kneecap after a heavy challenge with Marc Guehi.

The 25-year-old went under the knife earlier today and will now miss next week’s showpiece with Manchester United in Bilbao.

It leaves boss Ange Postecoglou without his three most creative midfielders with Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison already out for the rest of the season.

Young Swede Bergvall, 19, damaged his ankle ligaments in training at the end of last month.

England star Maddison, 28, faces three months out with a knee problem picked up in the semi-final first leg win over Bodo/Glimt earlier this month.

Postecoglou will have only four fit central midfielders - Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray - for the three positions in the middle of the park.

It remains to be seen how serious Kulusevski’s injury is with Postecoglou describing it only as a “knock” on Monday.

Big Ange will give an update on Thursday at his press conference previewing Friday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa.

But there are fears Kulusevski could miss the start of next season and is definitely out of next week’s final.

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A Spurs statement read: “We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend.

“Following further specialist consultation, the midfielder has undergone surgery today and will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately.

“We're all with you, Deki.”

Postecoglou’s squad have been beset by injuries all season long and had a five-week period over the winter where their absentee list was in the double figures.

It has severely impacted their league campaign, which has seen them lose a record 20 games and put Postecoglou’s position in jeopardy whether they triumph in Europe or not.

Spurs were boosted on Sunday by the return to action of Son Heung-min.

Man Utd vs Spurs - Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash

The Tottenham skipper had been out for a month with a foot issue.

Son, 32, came on as a 58th minute substitute in the defeat by Palace.

The South Korean is the only Spurs starter from the 2019 Champions League final still at the club.

Ben Davies, 32, was an unused sub in Madrid.

THE 2025 Europa League final is laced with compelling narratives.

Tottenham and Manchester United will compete for the continent's second-most prestigious trophy in Bilbao next Wednesday and the stakes are sky high.

Both teams have endured miserable domestic campaigns with Spurs currently 17th in the Premier League table and the Red Devils just one point better off in 16th.

The winners of the Europa League will salvage their season while the losers will be forced to reflect upon a disastrous year that may have significant consequences.

Then there's the Dream Team angle.

Despite their persistent league woes, both Spurs and Man United have provided plenty of points throughout the season with their European adventures being a major contributing factor.

Just two Gameweeks remain before the fat lady sings and with fixtures at a premium, most engaged managers will be looking to target the Europa League final as a source of precious points.

Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim's sides are two of just four teams set to pull double duty in Gameweek 36 and so there's every chance the events in Bilbao will shape Mini League standings worldwide.

GAMEWEEK 36 DOUBLE HEADERS

TOTTENHAM vs Aston Villa (a) & Man United (n)

MANCHESTER UNITED vs Chelsea (a) & Spurs (n)

CRYSTAL PALACE vs Man City (n) & Wolves (h)

MANCHESTER CITY vs Crystal Palace (n) & Bournemouth (h)

First and foremost, Bruno Fernandes (£7m) has to be considered a must-have asset at this moment in time.

The Portuguese playmaker has racked up 425 points this season via 19 goals and 19 assists.

Only Mohamed Salah (£6.8m) sits above Fernandes in the overall rankings but United's captain is in a league of his own among midfielders, a 106 points ahead of his nearest rival, Bryan Mbeumo (£4.6m).

There's a chance the 30-year-old will be rested at Stamford Bridge on Friday night but he should still be considered a top target for Gameweek 36 given he averages eight points-per-game in 2024/25.

Deciding upon another viable Man United asset is far from straightforward.

Alejandro Garnacho (£3.5m) ranks 11th among Dream Team midfielders with 269 points to his name but the young Argentine winger is unpredictable.

It may be that Noussair Mazraoui (£3m) is the man to accompany Fernandes for gaffers who think the Europa League final will go the way of the Northerners.

Betting on a clean sheet for either side is fraught with danger but the Moroccan defender has an ace up his sleeve in his immense tackling ability.

Mazraoui has made 166 tackles in all competitions this season, comfortable the highest tally among all players - only two other players have registered more than 120.

This defensive effort has allowed him to collect 226 points despite United's defensive frailties, enough to place him eighth in the rankings among players in his position.

In terms of Spurs options, Pedro Porro (£5.4m) deserves credit for his mammoth tally of 287 points as Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.4m) is the only defender who boasts a superior total after 35 Gameweeks.

The Spaniard has contributed four goals and TEN assists from right-back this term.

Furthermore, he has earned 51 bonus points, which makes him joint-leader in the metric alongside Youri Tielemans (£4.5m).

James Maddison (£4.4m) leads the way among his attack-minded team-mates with 272 points but the ex-Leicester midfielder has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

Frustratingly, Dejan Kulusevski (£3.9m) is flagged as a doubt for Gameweek 36 having hobbled off after just 18 minutes against Crystal Palace last time out.

The Sweden international provided plenty of points earlier in the campaign but injuries have tanked his viability in the last two months.

And so it appears Dominic Solanke (£4m) is the best attacking threat for gaffers keen on Spurs.

The 27 year-old target man scored important goals against Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt to help his side reach the final of the Europa League.

Solanke averages a goal involvement every 128.8 minutes this season.

Alternatively, Son Heung-min (£4.3m) is available again having returned against the Eagles last weekend but his minutes are not guaranteed by any means.

One way or the other, the Europa League final will have a bearing on the business end of the Dream Team season.

EUROPA LEAGUE final tickets are being flogged for £23,000 on Vivid Seats - a company part-owned by Chelsea's Todd Boehly.

Manchester United and Tottenham are preparing to do battle in the Bilbao showpiece on May 21.

The San Mames Stadium has a capacity of just over 53,000.

Both United and Spurs have been allocated 15,000 seats each, with the most affordable tickets starting at £34 thanks to Uefa's 'Fans First' scheme.

Tickets for the general public are split into three categories, with the face value prices between £55 and £204.

But tickets currently on sale on Vivid Seats - part-owned by Boehly - are available for eye-watering sums a week before kickoff.

'Prime seats' situated along the halfway line are listed on the site for £22,738 each, per The Price of Football.

Other options are available, with some tickets on sale in Category 1 for up to £17,054.

Furious fans were quick to slam the prices, with one writing on X: "Everything wrong with top level football right there."

Another said: "Unfortunately this is where the tourist league is going. Franchise soccer UK next."

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While a third fumed: "Why is this allowed. Absolute disgrace."

And a fourth commented: "Shocked but not surprised."

SunSport has contacted Chelsea for comment.

American businessman Boehly became a minority owner at Chelsea in May 2022.

The 51-year-old is a director and investor in Vivid Seats, a role recently described as a "conflict of interest" by the Chelsea Supporters Trust.

Vivid Seats, which has its base in Chicago, is legally allowed to operate overseas but is prohibited for use by UK users.

Boehly's Eldridge Industries owns 41 percent of the ticket resale site, according to IQ.

In an open letter penned in March, the CST wrote to the Premier League and asked them to "act and investigate" in an effort to clamp down on ticket touting at Chelsea games.

The letter read: "Many CST members are clearly infuriated by this connection and have written to us.

"As a director of Chelsea FC and part-owner, Mr Boehly's connection with Vivid Seats is totally inappropriate and significantly undermines the efforts of Chelsea FC, the Premier League, and the Metropolitan Police to combat ticket touting.

"Mr Boehly has been contacted directly by the CST and has been offered multiple opportunities to both publicly and privately address supporters' concerns.

"Neither Mr Boehly nor his representatives have, however, acted on these requests, and thousands of tickets remain for sale on the Vivid Seats website."

A Uefa spokesperson told SunSport: "Uefa strongly urges fans not to purchase tickets on the secondary market.

"Ticket sales to the general public and fans of the teams who have reached the finals are carried out exclusively by Uefa."

GARY NEVILLE has insisted that only ONE Manchester United player would get into Tottenham's starting XI.

The Red Devils take on Spurs in the Europa League final on May 21 as they look to end their catastrophic season on a high.

A spot in next season's Champions League is at stake as both teams try to salvage their campaigns with both hovering just above the relegation zone.

Man Utd reached the final by thrashing Athletic Bilbao while Spurs eased past Bodo/Glimt.

The two sides currently sit 16th and 17th in the Premier League, having both lost their last match at the weekend.

West Ham's 2-0 win at Old Trafford saw Graham Potter's side leapfrog the two and put them just above the bottom three.

Spurs have been able to win three times against Man Utd this season, twice in the Prem and once in the EFL Cup.

Neville is aware of this and admitted that he has a "sickly feeling" about the match in Bilbao.

The United legend has also insisted that only Fernandes would get into Ange Postecoglou's side when every player is fit.

Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, he said: "I have got a sickly feeling about this game next Wednesday.

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"The biggest reason I have a sickly feeling about this game is when I look at every player in the team, [Dejan] Kulusevski, [Heung-min] Son, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison if he was fit, [Yves] Bissouma and [Pape] Sarr, [Cristian] Romero and [Micky] van de Ven and [Pedro] Porro and [Destiny] Udogie.

"When you look at those players like for like with United, only Bruno [Fernandes] would get into the first XI of Spurs.

"I would select every single Tottenham player.

"The goalkeeper is a 50-50 split because I’m not a big fan of Vicario and I am not a fan of Onana.

"But I would choose every single player of Tottenham’s over Manchester United’s next Wednesday. That is my worry."

Fernandes, 30, has played a key role in helping United reach the final of the Europa League.

He has scored seven goals and assisted four more in his 13 appearances in the competition.

Only Bodo's Kasper Hogh and Olympiacos' Ayoub El Kaabi have managed as many goals as the Portuguese midfielder.

Meanwhile, Neville did make his prediction over which team would be victorious.

He added: "United do have a couple of players, the likes of Casemiro and Bruno, they have something in them that will step up for a one-off game.

"But if the players play like they should, Tottenham should win that game."

A MANCHESTER UNITED scout saw Cristiano Ronaldo Jr make his Portugal Under-15 debut as a raft of top clubs sent representatives to the match.

The 14-year-old son of the legendary former Red Devils No7 was cheered onto the pitch when he came off the bench in a 4-1 win over Japan’s Under-15s on Tuesday.

Wearing the same number his father wore with distinction during two spells at Old Trafford, Ronaldo Jr gave a few brief glimpses of his talent during a second-half run-out at the Vlatko Markovic tournament in Croatia.

Ruben Amorim’s staff will add the scout’s report to their file on the youngster, who could earn a start in one of Portugal’s remaining matches against Greece or England.

United will already know plenty from the 14 months Ronaldo Jr spent at their academy.

He played alongside Wayne Rooney's son, Kai, in the youth set-up when his father returned for an ill-fated second stint under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag.

The Europa League finalists were among several high-profile clubs to send scouts to the match.

United’s Bilbao opponents Tottenham were in attendance with up to 10 Bundesliga clubs also rumoured to be represented in the crowd.

Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti report that Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, Juventus and Atalanta sent spies to cover the game.

The Portuguese players caught the eye with their superior technique and tactical appreciation, running out easy winners over the Japanese kids.

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Braga forward Rafael Cabral was the star of the match and stole Cristiano Jr’s thunder by bagging a hat-trick before he stepped out onto the pitch.

The 14-year-old honed his ball skills by playing futsal from an early age while his mobility allows him to operate just as effectively from the wings as he does from the middle.

He is Braga’s top scorer in the youth league with 13 goals this season and leads a seven-strong contingent from the club in Portugal’s squad, which contains no players from the traditional powers of Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.

MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham will face off in the Europa League final next week in a battle for a place amongst Europe's elite.

The winner will earn a spot in next season's Champions League, a reward that is potentially worth in excess of £100MILLION.

Much has been made about whether that prize is suitable or not, given that United and Spurs currently occupy 16th and 17th spot in the Premier League - but Uefa aren't changing their rules for the two underachievers.

Qualification would mean a huge amount to both clubs, with the lure of the Champions League meaning more top talent could be enticed to join in the summer - not to mention a huge boost to their transfer kitty.

For Spurs, the money would be the cherry on top of the giant cake that is ending their 17-year wait for a trophy.

While United almost NEED to win the competition given their current financial situation, with a defeat meaning a huge loss in potential revenue amid a slew of cost-cutting measure by Sir Jim Racliffe and his Ineos team.

Once getting to the Champions League, advancing to the very end could earn up to a potential £95m extra for the eventual winner - but United and Spurs will be aware that their chances of going all the way are slim.

In fact, of the eight different teams that have gained qualification into the Champions League by winning the Europa League over the last 10 years, just ONE has made it to the semi-finals.

That was Villarreal, who were knocked out of the tournament by eventual winners Liverpool.

Man Utd entered the competition thanks to their 2017 Europa League success under Jose Mourinho, only to lose to Sevilla in the Round of 16.

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While Chelsea did the same in 2019 and were kicked out by Bayern Munich in the last 16 too.

United and Chelsea are two of six teams that reached the last 16 after qualifying through the Europa League.

While Sevilla have twice failed to advance through the group stages and Atalanta were knocked out of this year's competition in the qualifying knockout round.

Although it makes for bleak reading for Man Utd and Spurs fans, it's worth noting that the lure - and cash injection - of playing in the Champions League has helped teams who qualified through the Europa League attract big players.

It was United's entry to the 2017/18 competition that helped them sign Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof in the following summer.

Chelsea were unable to purchase players following their success as they were hit with a transfer ban following academy player rule breaches.

Either way, the prize waiting for the winner of next week's 'Hell Clasico' is something which cannot be underestimated and could have a huge impact on either club for years to come.

TOTTENHAM are set to take part in a tradition ahead of the Europa League final - but Manchester United will not.

The two English sides meet on May 21 at the San Mames Stadium, which is the home of Spanish side Athletic Bilbao.

Their stadium opened in 2013 after the old ground on an adjacent plot was demolished.

But a tradition has remained for 98 years to honour club icon Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, better known as Pichichi.

The legendary striker, who played for them in the early 1900s, suddenly passed away aged 29 from typhus.

To pay respect to Pichichi, every team who plays at the San Mames for the first time leaves a bunch of flowers in homage ahead of kick-off.

Hungarian side MTK Budapest were the first to make the gesture in 1927.

Spurs have never played Athletic Bilbao at their home, only facing them twice in friendlies at different locations.

Therefore, Tottenham are set to lay flowers by a bust in a special area by the players' tunnel to commemorate Pichichi.

Before the stadium was modernised, clubs would put their flowers by the statue of the legend outside the ground.

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Man Utd will not have to visit the florist ahead of the Europa League final as they have been to the San Mames before.

The Red Devils played at the old stadium in 1957 and 2012.

And they were at the new ground earlier this month as they knocked out Athletic Bilbao in this year's semi-final.

MANCHESTER UNITED will swap a bus-top parade for a barbecue if they beat Tottenham in the Europa League final.

The Red Devils already face being grilled after a dire season in the Premier League.

But they are still preparing to have a sizzling finale in one sense - by ditching lavish open-top bus celebrations in favour of a modest meal at their Carrington training ground, should they triumph on May 21.

Ruben Amorim's men are fifth bottom in the Prem, one place above Spurs, ahead of a Bilbao battle between the top-flight's two most under-achieving squads.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou might be more used to barbies - given he's from Down Under.

But United chiefs - or chefs - are reportedly planning a BBQ for one of the most low-key ways a footballing giant has ever marked winning silverware.

However, it's partly due to the club's incredibly hectic end to the month.

After next Wednesday's final, the Red Devils finish their Prem campaign at home to Aston Villa on Sunday week.

Then comes a gruelling 15-hour flight to Asia for money-spinning tour games in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong on May 28 and 30.

And if United do get the opportunity to rejoice in Europa League glory, the BBQ could be even less glamorous than it sounds - as major building work is taking place at Carrington.

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It's understood the event - for players, staff and their families - would be the day after the final.

So United will have to wait longer for another open-top bus parade - having not held one since 2013.

That special occasion heralded the Red Devils' 20th Prem title and the retirement of manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his golden reign of 27 years.

THE REFEREE taking charge of Manchester United's Europa League final showdown with Tottenham served a six-month ban for match fixing.

Felix Zwayer, 43, is the man in the middle of the all-English affair on May 21 as both sides eye season-saving silverware and Champions League qualification.

The German is one of Uefa’s top-ranked referees and took charge of England’s semi-final win over the Netherlands at last summer’s Euros.

And he took charge of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes last Wednesday.

Zwayer came under-fire from Arsenal fans after handing PSG a penalty for a controversial handball call against Myles Lewis-Skelly.

He now faces another major night in Bilbao as Man Utd look to go unbeaten in Europe, despite their embarrassing Premier League form.

But Zwayer, who has overseen more than 700 games and is highly rated by Uefa, has a tainted history.

In 2005, he was punished for accepting a bribe from fellow ref Robert Hoyzer.

Zwayer was a linesman at the time and took £250 to fix a second division match in Germany.

An investigation revealed that Hoyzer had been accepting money from a Croatian gambling syndicate connected to an organised crime group.

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Hoyzer was banned from football for life while also receiving a prison sentence of two years and five months.

As for Zwayer, he was suspended from football for six months before returning to eventually become a Bundesliga ref in 2009.

His bribery scandal has not gone unnoticed though, with Jude Bellingham calling him out after Borussia Dortmund drew with rivals Bayern Munich in 2021.

Bellingham was slapped with a £34,000 fine for blasting Zwayer's chequered past while complaining about a penalty incident.

The England star said: "You give a referee, that has match fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?"

Zwayer last refereed Man Utd during their 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the Europa League in 2023.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in all four games that Zwayer has officiated, which have ended in two wins and two draws.

And the last time he called the shots in a Tottenham game was during their 4-2 loss in Barcelona in 2018.

Zwayer has been an international ref since 2012 and will officiate his second Uefa final after the 2023 Nations League meeting between Croatia and Spain.

Compatriots Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz have been named as his assistants in Bilbao.

Italy's Maurizio Mariani is the fourth official and Bastian Dankert will serve as VAR.

SHOCKING scenes from Tottenham's training ground have sparked a conspiracy theory among Manchester United fans.

United and Spurs are scheduled to lock horns in the Europa League final on May 21 with both desperate to win a trophy and earn a place in next season's Champions League.

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And the Red Devils faithful began playing mind games after a Tottenham training clip emerged on social media showing Ange Postecoglou's men gearing up for the big match.

The short video went viral as it showed ex-Man Utd loanee Sergio Reguilon accidentally wiping out team-mate Brennan Johnson with a very clumsy sliding tackle.

Johnson, 23 - who counts 11 goals and five assists in 31 Premier League appearances - was in obvious pain after the misjudged challenge and needed some time to walk it off.

Thankfully for Spurs the Wales international was able to rejoin his team-mates a few seconds later.

And there was no indication of intent by Reguilon, 28, as it looked like he simply slipped.

However, that still didn't stop United fans from taking to social media and joking that the full-back has remained loyal to the club ahead of the final.

One fan tweeted: "Once a red…."

Another commented: "Agent Regi."

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A third wrote: "My guy!"

This fan said: "United legend Sergio Reguilon."

And that one joked: "Undercover agent for Man United since his loan move."

Postecoglou grimaced when he saw that challenge following an injury-plagued season.

And that fear of more crock woe is why there is no chance he will be repeating predecessor Mauricio Pochettino’s wacky antics ahead of the Europa League final.

Poch made his Spurs players walk over hot coals and run with arrows at their throats as a motivational tactic ahead of facing Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final, which they lost 2-0.

Postecoglou has his own European showpiece against United but the Aussie instead will be using the preparation time to ensure he suffers no more selection woes.

Spurs will definitely be missing James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Radu Dragusin in the final.

More injury woes

And they are sweating on the fitness of Dejan Kulusevski after he limped off early in Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

Asked if he would replicate any of Pochettino’s unorthodox tactics to gee up his players, Postecoglou replied: “We’ve got enough injuries!

“I’ll put them in cotton wool for the next ten days.

“Seriously, with the way things have gone this year, any extra curricular activities are going to be at a minimum.

“I don’t know if you saw training today but we had Reggie tackle Brennan and they are on the same team. That shows how we’re going!

“It seems to be how our season has gone.

Ange takes no chances

“You want to protect the integrity of training and you have to train at a certain level.

“There are the quirks of things that happen. Thankfully nothing too serious.

“You’ve just got to hope and pray that the football gods have run out of challenges to throw to us this year.”

Reguilon joined Tottenham in 2020 from Real Madrid but never really managed to settled down.

That led to loan stints at Atletico Madrid, Brentford and of course United.

The Spain international joined the Manchester giants on September 2023 as emergency cover at left-back following the injuries of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

However, Reguilon barely spent four months at Old Trafford and returned to Tottenham, who then offloaded him to Brentford just two weeks later.

The defender amassed a mere 12 appearances during his short time with United.

That is just seven more than the total number of appearances he has managed this season at Tottenham, where he has fallen out of favour under Postecoglou.

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