The Mirror

Manchester United face Tottenham in the Europa League final later this month after navigating their way past Athletic Bilbao and head coach Ruben Amorim is already stressed

Ruben Amorim admitted it is win or bust in the £100million all-English Europa League showdown between Manchester United and Tottenham. United came from a goal down at Old Trafford to win 4-1 on the night and set up a final against Spurs at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium on May 21.

Mason Mount came off the bench to notch a brace, including a stunning strike from 50 yards, while Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund also scored to send United into the final. The winners will not only lift the Europa League trophy but earn entry to next season’s Champions League - worth up to £100m in revenue.

Spurs have beaten United in all three meetings between the two sides this season, with Amorim claiming defeat for the fourth time is unthinkable for him and his players.

Amorim said: “I’m stressed already because of the final. If we don’t do it, then it means nothing. But we’re happy to be there, so let’s see.

“It's going to be a big final and we will try to win. It's hard to describe what it's like to be manager of this club, and you want to give the supporters something, because we were so disappointing in the Premier League.

"It's the least we can do for these fans, for the support they have given us in this tough season.”

Mount, whose two seasons at United have been plagued by injury, has scored three goals inside a week and said the goals were payback for never giving up. “I carried on going, working hard in training every day, tried to stay positive, and when I had an opportunity, try to make an impact,” said Mount.

"Today it paid off and I came on and affected the game. The crowd have been unbelievable, they have stuck with us.

"For me, these were my first goals at Old Trafford, a night I've been waiting a long time for. To go back to Bilbao is a special moment and we want to finish strongly."

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was in spiky form and rejected any comparison to United. The Australian coach is simply focused on ending the Lilywhites' 17-year wait for a trophy.

"What do I care what Man United think? Why is that relevant to me?" he said. "You know better than me, you follow this club more than I have. What do you think a trophy would do for this club?

"People are fearing that it might actually happen. They're trying to tear it down and diminish it and try to compare us to Man United."

The Premier League will have two additional Champions League places compared to normal next season after wins for Manchester United and Tottenham on Thursday night

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will face off in the Europa League final in Bilbao later this month and in doing so have earned the Premier League another spot in the Champions League. The pair each navigated their way through semi-finals and will now meet on May 21.

It is an opportunity for salvation for Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou, with both teams still able to finish as low as 17th in the Premier League after disastrous domestic campaigns. Winning the Europa League offers Champions League qualification, with either United or Spurs now to take that route into the competition.

Both sides protected first-leg leads as Spurs claimed a 2-0 win over Bodo/Glimt in Norway to secure a 5-1 aggregate success. United meanwhile laboured before securing a 4-1 win in the final 20 minutes to prevail 7-1 on aggregate.

The final will be just the sixth time a major European final has been contested by two English teams and it has a prized possession on the line. Something not lost on Ruben Amorim.

"I'm just worried about the next game, trying to not get any injuries for the final," said the United boss. "If we don't win the final, it means nothing for us.

"We have to have a full squad [against Tottenham ], stay in the game and have a bit of luck and we have to be clinical.

"It's quite similar for me and Ange [Postecoglou]. It is a tough moment [for us both] and one of us is going to win. It's going to be a big final and we will try to win."

The Premier League was already in the rare position of having five teams able to qualify for Europe's top competition next season. Liverpool have secured their place, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all battling for the remaining spots.

Traditionally, the top four teams have earned a place in the Champions League. But, thanks to the performances of Premier League clubs in UEFA's competitions this season, the division is guaranteed a top-two spot in UEFA's association club coefficient rankings.

Placing there secures a "European Performance Spot" for the league, and as a result an additional qualifying place for the competition.

The Premier League has previously earned five spots in 2017/18. That occasion saw Manchester United qualify despite finishing outside of the top four.

Their Europa League win earned them a place alongside Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Spurs in the competition. All five clubs reached the knockout stage which made England the first ever nation to have five teams in the competition's last 16..

Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21 after the Premier League pair came through their semi-final ties.

Both sides protected their advantages from the first legs, with Spurs running out 2-0 winners over Bodo/Glimt in Norway thanks to second half strikes from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro, securing a 5-1 aggregate success.

United were less impressive for much of Thursday night, but after beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the first leg in the Basque Country they completed the job at Old Trafford as Mason Mount's brace and Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund's strikes secured a 4-1 win on the night as they won 7-1 on aggregate.

The final will be just the sixth time a major European final has been contested by two English teams, with Spurs taking their place in an all-English final for the third time in their history and United the second.

Tottenham beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate in the 1972 UEFA Cup final in the only all-English European final of the 20th century, with United beating Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 Champions League final to win their third European Cup.

This month's meeting in Bilbao will then be the fourth all-English European final since 2019, when Chelsea beat Arsenal in Baku to win the Europa League and Liverpool beat Tottenham in Madrid to secure Champions League glory. Chelsea then beat Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final in Porto.

Both sides have earned their place in the Europa League final despite dire Premier League form. The pair have lost 35 league matches between them this season, with United down in 15th place in the table and Spurs in 16th.

They have met three times this season, with Spurs winning on each occasion. Ange Postecoglou's side ran out 3-0 winners over United at Old Trafford shortly before the sacking of Erik ten Hag, while they also beat them 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to a James Maddison goal.

Shortly before Christmas Spurs beat United 4-3 in an entertaining Carabao Cup tie.

Manchester United and Tottenham can both secure a place in the Europa League final on Thursday night, with the potential of an all-Premier League showdown in Bilbao

Manchester United and Tottenham are both just 90 minutes away from securing their place in the Europa League final. The Premier League giants have both endured miserable domestic seasons, finding themselves in the bottom half of the table.

That has piled the pressure on bosses Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou, but the two could both salvage their season with a European triumph. United are looking to win their first trophy under Amorim, while Spurs are looking to end their 17-year silverware drought.

And along with lifting the trophy, winning the Europa League would also secure either side a passage to next season’s Champions League. Much to Arsene Wenger's annoyance.

And the Premier League pair are well placed to reach the final later this month. United hold a three-goal lead over Athletic Bilbao after a brilliant first leg in Spain, while Spurs head to the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt after winning 3-1 in north London.

Neither side are getting carried away, but should everything go to plan on Thursday evening it will be an all-English final. Here’s everything you need to know about the potential clash.

When and where will the game be played?

It’s a relatively quick turnaround from the conclusion of the semi-final ties, with the final being played on Wednesday, May 21 at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium. It will get underway at 8pm UK time.

Ticket allocation

As is often the case with the UEFA competitions, the number of tickets on offer, compared to the amount going to supporters is a bone of contention. Bilbao’s stadium, built in 2013, holds more than 53,000 fans.

But that hasn’t translated into large allocations for teams that reach the final. In fact, just over 29,000 tickets will go to fans of the finalists, with the remaining 24,000 allocated elsewhere.

Unsurprisingly, that has angered all sets of supporters still in the competition, who will face a mad scramble to secure their place.

Both Spurs and United have already opened applications to purchase tickets, due to the very small window between now and the final kicking off.

Ticket prices

Rather than the clubs themselves, UEFA will handle the ticket purchasing and distribution. Prices range from €40 (£34) for Category 4 tickets, all the way to Category 1 tickets which ill cost €240 (£204). There is an option for restricted view tickets at the top category level, which will set you back €190 (£161).

How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham: TV channel, live stream, second leg kick-off time

The 2024/25 season has been one to forget for Tottenham - but they could turn it into a memorable one by bypassing Bodo/Glimt and going to lift the Europa League

Tottenham head to Norway in a desperate search to salvage something from the wreckage of their dismal 2024/25 campaign. After beating Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in the first leg last week, Ange Postecoglou's side have one foot in the Europa League final.

Victory there would not only end the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy, it would also book them a place in next season's Champions League. But the job isn't done yet.

Bodo/Glimt's strong home record at Aspmyra Stadion makes this a tricky tie, and Spurs aren't exactly brimming with confidence after suffering 23 defeats in all competitions since August. But with nothing left to play for domestically, it really is a case of all or nothing for Tottenham in the Europa League.

With a potential clash against Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao awaiting the winners, here's everything you need to know about how to watch the second leg, including TV channels, live stream details, and kick-off time.

When is Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham?

The Europa League semi-final second leg takes place on Thursday, May 8 at Aspmyra Stadion in Bodo, Norway. Kick-off is set for 8pm BST (9pm CET).

The match follows Tottenham's 3-1 victory in the first leg, where goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke secured a two-goal advantage, despite a late reply from Bodo/Glimt's Ulrik Saltnes.

Spurs need to avoid losing by a two-goal margin to progress to the final. If Bodo/Glimt match Tottenham's first leg winning margin in normal time, the tie will go to extra time and penalties until we have a winner.

How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham

In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage starting at 7pm BST. Subscribers can also stream the game live via the Discovery+ app or website, available on devices including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

For viewers outside the UK, the game will be shown through UEFA's broadcast partners, such as Paramount+ in the US, beIN Sports in the Middle East, and SuperSport in sub-Saharan Africa. Check local listings for specific channels and times.

Team news and injury updates

Tottenham are sweating on the fitness of several key players. Heung-min Son, who missed the first leg with a foot injury, remains a doubt but could return for the trip to Norway. Maddison picked up an injury in the first leg and has been ruled out for the season, but Solanke, who also hobbled off last week, is expected to be fit.

Elsewhere, Spurs will be without Lucas Bergvall and Radu Dragusin, both of whom, like Maddison, are out for the season. As for Bodo/Glimt, they are set to welcome back captain Patrick Berg, Hakon Evjen, and Andreas Helmersen, who were suspended for the first leg, boosting their chances. However, defender Odin Bjortuft is an injury doubt.

James Maddison won't play again this season after Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed the extent of a knee injury which the midfielder sustained last week

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that James Maddison will miss the rest of the season. Maddison, 28, suffered a knee injury in the build-up to Sunday's 1-1 draw with West Ham.

His absence is a huge blow for Spurs, who could find themselves in the Europa League final against Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao in Spain later this month. Postecoglou's side face Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their semi-final clash, leading 3-1 on aggregate after a comfortable victory last week.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's match, the Tottenham boss confirmed when asked about team news: "Madders from the first leg, so he's out. He'll miss the rest of this season and disappointing for him.

"I'm disappointed for him because he's been a real catalyst for us. He'll miss out but that's been the story of our season. Everyone else from the first leg has travelled and they're ready to go."

Captain Son Heung-min also won't be available but striker Dominic Solanke, who's scored in Spurs' last two European games to put them on the brink of the final, is fit. "No [he hasn't travelled]. Dom is fine and ready to go, he's trained with the team," Postecoglou added.

"Disappointing for Sonny. He has progressed and he's a possibility to get minutes at the weekend but he hasn't trained with the team yet."

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario insists they have squad to cope without the likes of Maddison and Son. "We're used to this [having injuries]," Vicario acknowledged. "We will not have Sonny and Madders for tomorrow [from the leadership group]. The entire squad will be crucial, including everyone who comes off the bench. The Spurs family will be important."

Will Tottenham reach the Europa League final? Give us your score prediction in the comments section.

Postecoglou, whose future beyond this season remains uncertain, knows that Spurs need to finish the job and won't underestimate Norway's first-ever European semi-finalists: "Bodo are there on merit. They beat Lazio, Olympiakos; they're tough teams.

"I'm from the other side of the world. It doesn't matter where you're from. We're going to treat them with the respect they deserve and give our best.

"Missing Patrick Berg is a loss for them but I think it's always been more about what they do as a team rather than individuals. They've sold a lot of players over the past five years but they've kept doing well."

Arsene Wenger recently claimed he does not think the winners of the Europa League should automatically qualify for next season's Champions League

Ange Postecoglou insists "Spurs does crazy things to people" as he hit back at Arsene Wenger over claims the Europa League winners shouldn't qualify for next season's Champions League. Speaking earlier this week, the ex-Arsenal boss - now working as FIFA's head of global football - appeared to undermine Tottenham and Manchester United's potential pathway back into Europe's elite club competition. Wenger told BeIN Sports: "They should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League." However, Postecoglou unsurprisingly does not agree with Wenger's comments and he claims people are now only bothered about a rule that has existed since the 2014-15 season because it impacts Spurs. The Aussie said ahead of tonight's crunch semi-final second leg in Norway against Bodo/Glimt: "Well that's a debate that's been raging for years mate - at least the last eight days. I've never heard that before? I've said it before mate, Spurs does crazy things to people, it does, it does.

"You put that club into any sentence or issue and invariably, they all come out and try and diminish us as much as they can. Why wasn't it an issue before but it's an issue now? "What's the difference, I don't understand what the difference is? Last year fifth didn't get you into the Champions League, now it does, what does that mean? There are competition rules, it's not the first year and there is an asterisk against it that you have to do something else but it's Spurs mate, they love it, you love it." Postecoglou quickly clarified that while he did not agree with Wenger, he still respects the Frenchman. He continued: "I've got great respect for Arsene, he's one of the legends of the game but Spurs does do crazy things to people, I love it."

This is not Postecoglou's first trip to the Arctic Circle - his Celtic side were dumped out of the UEFA Conference League by Bodo/Glimt following a 2-0 defeat in 2021. Celtic did not train on the artificial pitch at Aspmyra Stadion prior to that loss as Postecoglou claimed there was "not a great deal to be gained." This time around, however, the 59-year-old was not prepared to make the same mistake as he looks to end Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought. He said: "It was different circumstances and a different scenario with Celtic. We did it in Frankfurt, we've done it consistently in Europe and I just feel it works better for us and the players are used to training the night before at the venue." After suffering a thigh injury last week during the first leg, Dominic Solanke trained with his Spurs team-mates last night in Norway.

Odin Bjortuft has said Bodo/Glimt's plastic pitch can have a huge say on Europa League semi-final as Tottenham Hotspur head to the Arctic Circle with a 3-1 lead

ODIN Bjortuft reckons Bodo/Glimt’s plastic pitch can derail Tottenham’s dream.

Spurs arrive in the Arctic Circle with a two-goal advantage but defender Bjortuft, who is set to return having been sidelined by a minor injury last week, says Ange Postecoglou’s team could struggle with the pace of their all-weather surface at the 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadion.

Bodo have won six of their seven home games in the competition and train on the pitch daily. And some Spurs stars may still be scarred by their previous experience of an artificial surface this season, when they needed extra-time to beat non-League Tamworth in the FA Cup.

“There’s no doubt it is an advantage for us,” Bjortuft said. “I don’t think a lot of teams are prepared for what’s coming. I think it's a combination [of things]. The ball goes really fast when you play passes and it's more difficult for defenders reaching attackers and getting contact with us. That's what we benefit from in these games.

“Of course, it's a big difference between artificial and grass in many ways but the main key is that the ball goes so fast. It may be harder to turn and everything for players that are not used to it.”

Bjortuft has added motivation because he grew up as a fan of likely final opponents Manchester United.

The centre-back regularly visited Old Trafford with his dad as a youngster and went to school “every day” wearing the club’s kit.

But having already had “an experience I’ll never forget” by playing at Old Trafford during the league phase - when Bodo led early on before losing 3-2 - the opportunity to battle Ruben Amorim’s side for major silverware would top the lot.

“It is pretty surreal. It’s quite fun to think about the little boy who wore a United kit to school every day.

“I’m really proud and grateful that we have reached this level and managed to achieve this stuff. This will be a big moment for my whole life. I'll remember this moment forever and I’m really grateful for it.

“For us Norwegians growing up we always watch English football, everyone does worldwide, so it’s special. But at the same time, we just have to treat it as a normal match. It may be hard, but I think we have cracked the code.”

A promise was made for no Premier League games to be scheduled the night before this season's FA Cup final but that has now been broken owing to Manchester United and Tottenham's European hopes

A promise not to schedule Premier League games the night before this month’s FA Cup final has been broken after Aston Villa's game against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United's visit to Chelsea were both moved. The decision comes so both Spurs and United can be allowed additional and equal rest before the Europa League final four days later, which both are hopeful of reaching thanks to first leg leads.

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.”

But Spurs’ visit to Villa, who are unhappy with the request for the game’s date to be changed, will now kick off at 7:30pm on Friday April 16, followed by Chelsea versus United at 8:15pm.

Crystal Palace and Manchester City only learnt of the kick-off time - 4.30pm - for their meeting at Wembley on Saturday following protracted negotiations involving broadcasters. Both Friday night games were initially set to take place alongside other Premier League matches on Sunday April 18.

And Villa’s director of football operations Damien Vidagany outlined their unhappiness in a post on social media. “Fixture changed and, honestly, not happy,” he wrote. “We really pushed to protect our fans (our main task and duty) and keep the Spurs match on Sunday. Nothing against Spurs.

"Considering the alternatives, (much worse on the Wednesday or Thursday) and the process conducted the final outcome is less damaging. At the end, it is what it is.

"Hopefully, in the future, all of them will remind us of the clear prejudice in this case to Villa fans and will be consistent and equally supportive, if we need changes to help us in Europe.”

Spurs lead Bodo/Glimt 3-1 following the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, while United won 3-0 away to Athletic Bilbao. Both return fixtures take place on Thursday night.

Chelsea are also set to progress to a European final having taken a 4-1 lead against Sweden's Djurgardens in the Conference League but that game does not take place until Wednesday, April 28.

Manchester United were scheduled to have 42 hours and 15 minutes more recovery time than Tottenham if both English clubs make it to the Europa League final on May 21

The Premier League have moved Tottenham's clash with Aston Villa forward by two days to give them more time to recover ahead of a potential Europa League final against Manchester United. Spurs were originally scheduled to travel to Villa Park at 2:15pm on Sunday May 18.

Meanwhile, United had been scheduled to play Chelsea away at 8pm on Friday May 16. Should both English clubs successfully navigate the second legs of their semi-final ties, United would've had 42 hours and 15 minutes more rest time compared to Spurs.

Tottenham released a statement on Sunday morning confirming that they were in 'discussions with the Premier League regarding a change in date to our away Premier League match against Aston Villa, currently scheduled for Sunday May 18'. Now the change has been confirmed.

Spurs will instead face Villa at 7:30pm on the Friday. United's clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has subsequently been given a new kick-off time of 8:15pm, with both matches to be shown on Sky Sports.

The reason why United and Chelsea were originally moved to play in Friday's fixture slot is because both clubs are involved in the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley on the Sunday. United's men are firm favourites to reach the Europa League final after taking a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg of their semi-final tie away to Athletic Bilbao last Thursday.

As for Tottenham, it's less straightforward. Ange Postecoglou's side lead Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt 3-1 on aggregate but must travel to the Arctic circle for a tricky-looking second leg this Thursday.

There's added pressure because of the fixture change, with the Premier League clearly anticipating an all-English final in Bilbao on Wednesday May 21. Postecoglou was asked about the potential disparity in recovery time ahead of Sunday's 1-1 draw at West Ham.

Will Tottenham reach the Europa League final? Give us your score prediction in the comments section.

"I haven't looked too deeply into it, I don't know what sort of precedence there is to it," the Spurs boss replied. "I know other leagues do it, which you kind of understand for a European final. I'll leave that to the powers that be and I'll concentrate on trying to get us there first of all."

Postecoglou added: " Bodo are there on merit. They beat Lazio, Olympiakos; they're tough teams. I'm from the other side of the world. It doesn't matter where you're from. We're going to treat them with the respect they deserve and give our best.

"Missing Patrick Berg is a loss for them but I think it's always been more about what they do as a team rather than individuals. They've sold a lot of players over the past five years but they've kept doing well."