The Mirror

Tottenham star says Ruben Amorim is driving force behind his career - 'He's magnificent'

Pedro Porro spent three years being coached by Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon with Manchester United head coach once describing relationship with Spurs defender as "more than a professional one"

Pedro Porro has hailed “magnificent” Ruben Amorim for his human touch after crediting the Manchester United boss’ role in helping his career “explode.”

Spurs full-back Porro is hoping to heap more misery on his former coach in Wednesday’s Europa League showdown – but he will never forget the care and attention shown to him at Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim spent three years developing Porro at the Portuguese club and has previously said his relationship with the Spain international was “more than a professional one.”

And while Amorim has struggled to get to grips with life at Old Trafford, Porro still thinks the father-like figure is among the best around.

“He's a magnificent coach,” Porro said. “I know him very well. It’s the way he treats the players. He always spoke to me as a person, it’s not just how he treated me from a football perspective. The way he works on the pitch is also very good but in this case I hope I’m the happy one.

“When I arrived (at Sporting), it was a little bit difficult for me. But like everything in football, sometimes it’s hard at first right?

“Things in life don't always go the way you want them to but when I got there the truth is I had a lot of help from him and at that moment my football exploded. I'm really grateful to him for that.”

Gratitude may be in short supply should United deny Spurs a first trophy in 17 years. Both teams travel to northern Spain approaching the end of diabolical domestic campaigns. Spurs’ defeat at Aston Villa on Friday was their 21st in the league, leaving head coach Ange Postecoglou on the brink irrespective of this week’s outcome.

But Porro has no issue separating their travails at home with their steady, professional approach in Europe. “The truth is we have very good feelings,” he said.

“Ignoring the Premier League, we are feeling good. The job the team has done in Europe has been enormous and I think we feel we’re in a good place. Those feelings have to carry over to the day of the final now.

“We have to forget everything else because we've worked very hard to get to this final. It’s very difficult to get to where we are in this Europa League and it’s where we want to be.”

United are in a similar state, though with one fewer win and three fewer defeats in the league. And Porro added: “Well, I don't think they've lost in the Europa League. They're a very good team, with a very good coach no? In the end they haven’t had the luck in the Premier League, it's like us isn't it?

“But we're two teams that know how to deliver and it’s going to be a very beautiful final. I hope we’re the happy ones at the end.”

Yves Bissouma is hoping to repay the faith shown by Ange Postecoglou when Tottenham take on Manchester United in season-defining Europa League final on Wednesday night

Yves Bissouma insists Ange Postecoglou deserves heaps of praise for absorbing so much criticism to protect his players. And the midfielder hopes injury-hit Spurs can repay the faith of “Uncle Ange” by delivering a first trophy in 17 years by defeating Manchester United in Wednesday’s Europa League final.

Bissouma has drifted in and out of Postecoglou’s strongest XI during a season that he admits “has been hard for me personally” but the absences of Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall means he is close to a dead cert to start in Bilbao.

Postecoglou goes into the game knowing that even a win might not keep him in position for next season because of their nightmare league campaign, though it has been severely impacted by an injury crisis he previously described as “unprecedented.”

But Bissouma is full of thanks for the Australian because he has taken the blows for the players when their performances have fallen below expectations.

“He’s always protecting us,” Bissouma said. “Every game, when we lose or win. He’s got a top mentality. He understands football. He knows it’s up and down. He never blames players. To have a coach like him is something.

“At the same time, with him, we are working hard. We want to improve every game and every training because it’s really important for us and the club. We’re all here for the club, for the same reason. It’s necessary to be together.”

Bissouma began the season serving a club suspension because of a video posted on social media in which he appeared to inhale laughing gas. And while he politely says he does not feel ready to discuss that topic, he insists his relationship with Postecoglou has not changed since they first started working together.

“He’s like a dad or uncle for us,” Bissouma adds. “He’s always trying to make us understand what he really wants. For us, he’s Ange, he’s him. He’s got his idea. He’s trying to help us every time. It’s not easy (the style of play), especially at the start.”

Bissouma admits spending a lot of time as a substitute has been tough to get used to but his commitment and readiness has never dropped.

“The most important thing is if the team does good,” he adds. “I’m here to work and when my time comes, I play. As a professional, you have to be ready. You have to understand it’s not just yourself – you are part of a group. You can’t control things sometimes.

“The only thing I know is, you have to work hard and never give up and be ready when your team needs you. That’s what I’m always trying to do. In the hard moments, you have to be strong because it’s not easy.”

Last month Postecoglou took the Malian aside – before the injuries to Maddison, Bergvall and Kulusevski – to say that he would be needed to make a big impact before the campaign is out.

And having played every minute of the semi-final against Bodo/Glimt – which he describes as the best night of his life – nothing but his best will be required to defeat United.

“We know what we have to do. We have to win this cup,” he adds, but looking forward he wants Spurs fans to know there is so much more to come. “Of course there is. I’m still learning.”

Jermain Defoe claims former club Tottenham need to exploit some of the irresistible talent currently embedded within their academy ranks

Jermain Defoe has urged former club Tottenham to unleash five exciting youth talents. The 42-year-old, who left his Spurs academy coaching role last summer, believes there are a number of prospects that have what it takes to break into Ange Postecoglou's side next season.

He said: "I was so lucky when I was coming through at West Ham in the academy, Harry [Redknapp] was bringing players through and developing them. But Spurs have got Mikey Moore, Damola Ajayi who recently played in the Europa League and scored [vs Elfsborg], and there's another kid called Tyrese Hall.

"He has so much potential, he's unbelievable and is one of the best I've seen. In my two years at Tottenham, all of the teams that we played against around the country, he was definitely one of the best, in fact, he's a Premier League footballer.

"You've got Callum Olusesi who has been in and around the first-team, on the bench, and Will Lankshear so there are so many players in the academy that next season, they should be looking to break through. Hopefully the club will give them an opportunity."

Former England striker Defoe was speaking to Sunday Mirror off the back of the recent Emirates 5s, a 5-a-side tournament created to celebrate the airline’s sponsorship of the Emirates FA Cup.

Held at St. George’s Park, four legends – Defoe, Shola Ameobi, Ben Foster, and Shaun Wright-Phillips each captained a team starring influencers, non-league players and individuals making a positive change in their local communities as they represented Emirates flight hubs in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Newcastle and battled it out on the pitch to be crowned champions.

He was delighted to return to the pitch after calling time on his playing career back in 2022, explaining: "It's such a good concept and was nice to get my boots on again but it's never friendly once the whistle goes!

"It was nice to get the phone call, I've not seen Shola for years and of course, I'm friends with Shaun and Ben Foster is always in and around London so it was nice to see the boys again.

"I was surprised by the pitch side, when the pitch is smaller sometimes you think it's less running but it was man-for-man. I thought we were unlucky, it was just a semi-final and a final but when we got knocked out, I saw Newcastle play and I knew they'd win it.

"I respect anyone that goes out there and plays football because it's pressure, I remember when I first started coming through, I played for my district and Sunday League team but it was just nice to be amongst it and amongst the players that play Non-League but we still have the same love for the game. It means a lot to me."

Arsenal are expected to find themselves busy during the summer transfer window but the fate of one of their players continues to hang on the balance as the season nears its end

Fabio Vieira's Arsenal future continues to hang in the balance after a season out on loan. The Portugal international had been due to return to North London after a year back at old club Porto, but that no longer looks as certain as it once did.

The spanner in the works comes courtesy of none other than Andre Villas-Boas. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has been Porto's president since 2024, and appears to be a big fan of Vieira.

Vieira, who joined Arsenal from Porto for around £30million back in 2022, has scored five times in 38 appearances during his current loan. He was expected to play in the upcoming Club World Cup before returning to his parent club.

According to Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness), though, he could yet stay put. The Portuguese outlet claims Villas-Boas is spearheading negotiations, which could lead to an extension of his loan or even a permanent move back to the Dragao.

Porto will begin their Club World Cup campaign against Palmeiras on June 15, followed by group games against Al Ahly and Inter Miami. Clubs involved in the competition are allowed to extend contracts of players whose deals are otherwise due to expire on Jun 30 in order to allow them to play in the tournament, which runs until mid-July.

Vieira struggled to adapt to English football in his first Arsenal season but showed signs of improvement early last term. Groin surgery derailed his campaign, though, and he struggled for minutes after Christmas with just three league outings.

He has played in the majority of Porto's league games, though they will have to settle for Europa League football next term after sitting a distant third behind Sporting and Benfica. He also featured in all but one of their European games this term, including a cameo from the bench against Manchester United.

“The idea of returning came from me," Vieira said back in September when asked about his loan switch. "I love this club and I’m going to give everything on the pitch.”

With Ethan Nwaneri stepping up to become part of the first team picture in North London, Vieira may feel as though he's unlikely to get too many opportunities in the Premier League next term. His Gunners contract runs until 2027, though, and a permanent sale could help free up some funds for summer investment.

Another star of the Portuguese league is on the Gunners' radar, with Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres an option up front. The Swede's 38 goals make him far and away the top scorer in the Primeira Liga, and victory for Sporting in their final game of the season will see them crowned champions.

Aston Villa boosted their hopes of returning to the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Tottenham, but Emiliano Martinez sparked fears he could be leaving the club with his emotional interaction with fans

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could not give any assurances over the future of Emiliano Martinez after the goalkeeper was in tears following his side’s 2-0 win over Europa League finalists Tottenham.

The Argentina international has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer and he was emotional at full-time of Villa’s final home game of the season. Asked about the 32-year-old’s future, Emery could only say “we will see”, with Villa forward Leon Bailey also in tears.

“Of course, it is the last match (of the season) here, and I don’t know,” the Spaniard said. "We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field, at the moment they are responding and they are so, so focused in how we are preparing and playing each match.

“Of course, Leon Bailey is playing now less because other players are responding very well. They are performing well.

“And we are going to play Manchester (United) for the last three points. And for us it will be very important again, to prepare, to be focused everybody.

“And of course, then we will see about everything, how we are going to try to get better for the next season.”

Second-half goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara strengthened Villa’s hopes of returning to the Champions League next term. Villa’s memorable run to the quarter-finals of this season’s competition gave them the taste for more and they boosted their hopes with an eighth win from their last nine Premier League games.

However, Chelsea ’s win over the Red Devils later on Friday night saw Villa drop to fifth and they will sink further if sixth-placed Manchester City win their game in hand. Emery added: “It’s not in our hands. We are winning. But other teams are as well, they are being demanding, and they are getting their points.”

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was not prepared to risk defenders Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven ahead of next week’s Europa League final after they stayed at home.

Spurs’ focus was clearly on Wednesday’s clash with Manchester United in Bilbao with the defensive trio not even travelling to Villa Park, where Tottenham suffered a 21st defeat of a miserable league season.

They could yet still be in the promised land of the Champions League next season as well if they can end their trophy drought in Europe and boss Postecoglou did nothing to jeopardise that at Villa Park.

When reminded it would be two weeks since the trio played, Postecoglou interjected: “Yeah, but they’re available. They’re available. For us, at that point we knew they weren’t going to play today, they stayed home and had a really strong session.”

“Come Wednesday, knock on wood, they’re all available. And that’s the most important thing, that was the primary thing. Because when those guys play our chances of success are significantly greater.”

Postecoglou could have a fresh injury worry for the final, though, after Pape Matar Sarr limped off early in the second half. The midfielder walked straight down the tunnel, but Postecoglou said: “Pape felt something in his back, we don’t think it’s anything significant having spoken to him, but we’ll see.”

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are in Premier League action on Friday to allow both equal rest before next week's Europa League final but the FA had previously said games would not be scheduled before Cup final

Manchester United are gearing up to face Chelsea, while Spurs are preparing to take on Aston Villa in rearranged Premier League fixtures on Friday night.

But the Friday night matches, moved so both clubs could have equal and longer rest ahead of Wednesday night's season-defining Europa League final in Bilbao, break a vow made by the Football Association about the FA Cup final.

Crystal Palace face Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday afternoon and the FA said when announcing plans for this season’s cup that not only would the final take place “on an exclusive Saturday” but there would be no top-flight fixtures the night before “to allow focus on the build-up to the showpiece event.”

But Spurs’ visit to Villa, who were unhappy with the date of the game being changed, will now kick off at 7:30pm on Friday, followed by Chelsea versus United at 8:15pm. Both Friday night games were initially set to take place alongside other Premier League matches on Sunday.

Palace and City only learnt of the kick-off time for their meeting at Wembley a fortnight before the game following protracted negotiations involving broadcasters. However the 4:30pm will allows supporters travelling from Manchester sufficient time to reach Euston station for trains home.

In a statement confirming changes to this season’s Cup, the FA said last year : “The Emirates FA Cup Final will now take place on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, on an exclusive Saturday with no Premier League fixtures taking place on the same day.

“Additionally, there will be no Premier League games on the Friday night before the final, to allow focus on the build-up to the showpiece event.”

The priority for both United and Spurs will be to come through without any fresh injuries and both Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou are expected to name a rotated team.

Spurs captain Heung-min Son will be given an opportunity to build up his minutes at Villa Park having returned from a month out with a foot injury against Crystal Palace last weekend.

But several key figures may only be named on the bench as focus turns to Bilbao, with not only major silverware on offer but a place in next season’s Champions League and the huge financial benefits that brings.

The Tottenham boss confirmed latest injury casualty Dejan Kulusevski is out for “months” with a knee injury and Spurs are now less than a week from their Europa League final with Manchester United

Ange Postecoglou insists he will not take any more fitness gambles - because Tottenham’s own Champions League hopes are on the line. Postecoglou angrily dismissed any notion that he is damaging the “integrity” of the Premier League by fielding a potentially weakened team at Aston Villa.

The Tottenham boss confirmed latest injury casualty Dejan Kulusevski is out for “months” with a knee injury after he played against Crystal Palace last Sunday and Spurs are now less than a week from their Europa League final with Manchester United. Postecoglou served a reminder Tottenham can potentially win their first trophy in 17 years and also earn a passport into next season’s Champions League.

Villa are still chasing a place in the top five with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle so they will all be watching Tottenham with interest. Postecoglou said: “Villa are obviously going for Champions League football and you see how important it is to them and we’re doing the same.

“Look, in a normal world you’d be using this to sharpen up but we’re not living in a normal world. That’s the reality of our existence at the moment where we can’t lose another player to an injury. It’s just too finely balanced for us considering what’s at stake.

“That seems to be our lot at the moment and even with the best planning, we’re still getting hit with these setbacks and from my perspective I’ve got to take that into account when considering the game.”

Postecoglou doubled down on the accusations about “integrity” and served up a reminder how some fans wanted to lose against Manchester City last season if it meant stopping bitter rivals Arsenal winning the title.

Postecoglou added: “I'm not sure what people are talking about when they talk about the integrity of the game - I don't know what that means. We have certainly put out teams this year that because of our injury situation were not the strongest we needed to put out there but we still needed to play those games and it's the same with other clubs.

"I don't even know why that question is being asked if I'm honest because if anyone thinks we are going to go out there and not do our absolute best to win - that's the only time when integrity is questioned.

"When we played Man City last year and apparently I was in the wrong for trying to win a game of football that's where integrity comes into it, that's why I was so strong on it.

"When you put a line-up out there you are trying to win a game of football but at the same time every club has got its own interests and you have to prioritise what's important for your club.

"Champions League is very important for all those clubs fighting for it at the moment, I can see how important it is and every game and every decision is crucial but we are in exactly the same boat. We have got Champions League qualification plus a trophy to win. It would be negligent of me if I wasn't doing the best thing for our football club to make sure we achieve that.”

EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United and Tottenham will meet in the Europa League final next week but some fans travelling to Bilbao will have to contend with strike action

Football fans going to the Europa League final are facing travel chaos because of airport strike action. And potential delays and cancellations could leave Tottenham and Manchester United fans hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

The industrial action will affect flights out of Gatwick Airport next Tuesday and Wednesday when supporters are flying out to Bilbao. Refuelling staff - who work for Redline Oil Services Limited - are taking strike action after talks collapsed on new working terms.

EasyJet are still selling flights from Gatwick to Bilbao for £900-plus even though they could be delayed or cancelled and they would not be covered for compensation as it is seen as an exceptional circumstance.

Unite members at Redline are taking industrial action from Friday, May 16 to May 20 and then from May 23 to May 27 after they rejected the company’s new pay offer. The budget airline is one of the firm’s main clients.

There is also potential for delays because of a backlog from the strike action with fans already paying thousands of pounds to get to the all-English Europa League final.

Fans have spent huge sums on flights, travel and accommodation for the Tottenham and Manchester United tie. But they are facing potential travel chaos and a possible financial hit because of the industrial action.

Meanwhile, industrial action by Red Handling workers at Gatwick Airport over late and missing pension payments has been postponed to allow members to vote on new working terms.

Over 100 Unite members had been due to walk out this weekend but that has now been put on hold. They work in areas including baggage handling, check-in and flight dispatching.

Regional officer Ben Davis said: "Red Handling has returned to negotiations and made an improved offer and therefore Unite has suspended strike action to allow members to be balloted on the proposals.”

It is understood that EasyJet are confident that contingency plans are in place and the schedule will not be affected.

Tottenham have been hit with two huge injury blows ahead of the Europa League final in James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, and fans shouldn't get their hopes up about Lucas Bergvall making a recovery

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Lucas Bergvall won't recover in time to face Manchester United in the Europa League final. Bergvall, 19, damaged ligaments in his ankle last month and has missed Spurs' last four games.

The Swedish midfielder is the fourth freshly-injured Tottenham player to be ruled out of next Wednesday's final. Bergvall joins Timo Werner, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski as well as long-term absentees Radu Dragusin and Dane Scarlett in missing the match in Bilbao.

Postecoglou was asked ahead of Spurs' trip to Aston Villa on Friday if there was any chance that Bergvall, who's made 45 appearances in his first season with Tottenham, could make a miracle recovery. "No, it is still the same sort of timeframe," he reiterated.

"He was never a long-term one but he has literally just got out of the boot and taken his first tentative steps on the grass but he won't be available."

Bergvall's injury came just days before their semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt. "Lucas was devastated. He didn't want to deal with it and we didn't want to make it public, not as much about the opposition but to give him the time to process it," Postecoglou said earlier this month.

"He's a young man. He had such a high in the week, he had signed a new deal, he was playing well, his whole family was out here looking forward to the game."

Tottenham's morale has been tested this season with constant injury setbacks. Nearly every member of their squad has had a spell on the sidelines, with Postecoglou admitting that his players have become hardened to it.

"I guess because it's been a constant with us during the year, we've kind of become almost accustomed to it," he explained. "It would probably be a bigger issue if we had a smooth run all year and got hit with injuries now and deal with missing key players, but we've pretty much been without key players all season.

Who'll win the Europa League final - Tottenham or Man Utd? Give us your score prediction in the comments section.

"There hasn't been a time where we had a three or four week spell with our strongest line-up, so the boys are getting on with it. They're disappointed for the people involved and Deki [Kulusevski] being the latest one because he had a fantastic first part of the year for us and was just working his way back into it.

"At the same time as I keep saying to the group all along, you can't pick and choose when these opportunities come along. There could be other years where we don’t have these disruptions and injuries, but we don't get to a final. The reality of it is now the opportunity is there and whatever happens between now and then, we've got to make sure we're ready for it."

Tottenham are expected to ring the changes when they face Aston Villa on Friday night, as they continue to prepare for the season-defining Europa League final next week

Ange Postecoglou angrily dismissed claims that Tottenham are damaging the “integrity” of the Premier League by fielding weakened teams. Tottenham travel to Aston Villa on Friday night in the middle of an injury crisis just five days before their biggest game of years with the Europa League final.

Spurs boss Postecoglou made it clear he will not take any unnecessary risks but Villa are chasing a Champions League spot while Manchester United have a similar dilemma as they go to Chelsea who are also vying for a place in the top five.

It means other clubs in the hunt - Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and the like - will be looking on with great interest at the games at Villa Park and Stamford Bridge.

But when the word integrity was even brought up, Postecoglou bit back and insisted that he was doing the best for his club, especially after losing Dejan Kulusevski to a long-term knee injury which will keep him out for “months.”

Postecoglou said: “We’re going to go out there to try and win the game and put out a team which hopefully gets that job done.

“I’m not sure about the integrity. I think there are teams when we’ve had to field weakened teams because of injury, does that affect integrity?

“People are thinking that some kind of competitive balance exists. That doesn’t exist over the course of a season. I’d be very surprised if people are questioning our integrity to try and win a game of football tomorrow.

“I put a team out that I think will do its best to win a game of football, yeah. It’s been a constant with us all season. There hasn't been a time when we’ve had a three or four week time with our strongest line-up.”

Postecoglou also revealed that Kulusevski will be out for months after he underwent surgery on a knee injury which also puts him out of the Europa League final.

“I’m really disappointed for him,” said Postecoglou. “He’s done so well for us this season and we can’t put a time frame on it but it will be months. I’m reluctant to get into when he will be back but it will put him out for some months.”

Postecoglou also dismissed suggestions that Lucas Bergvall could be back to face Villa and also Timo Werner is out with a hamstring issue. “Lucas has just come out of a boot, he’s just come back onto the grass but it’s very early for him.”