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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are about to face each other in a £100m sliding-doors Europa League final in Bilbao.

They are currently 16th and 17th in the Premier League, directly above the relegation places. Between them, they have lost an incredible 39 times in the league this season.

But Bilbao brings a shot at redemption.

For Spurs, it would mean a first trophy since the 2008 League Cup. United, meanwhile, are aiming for their first European trophy since their Europa League triumph in 2017. For the fans it is huge.

But for the people running the respective clubs it is bigger. The prize for victory is a place in next season's Champions League. At a conservative estimate, it would generate a £100m increase in revenue.

The pressure at the San Mames stadium will be immense.

How are Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim preparing for it? And what does it feel like to play in a game of this magnitude?

There has been a divergence in approach. For a start, when they played their last match before the final within 45 minutes of each other on Friday, the respective managers opted for very different strategies.

Postecoglou played a completely different team at Aston Villa compared with the one that beat Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their semi-final. He left key centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero out of the squad entirely.

"I don't understand why they are gripped by fear, both managers will want to go into the cup final with momentum," said ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton.

"It's just that selection fear where Postecoglou won't play Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven - but will they be undercooked?"

Amorim went strong. Even following the return to training of Diogo Dalot, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro on Tuesday, other than Mason Mount and speculation around striker Rasmus Hojlund, it felt very much like the team who will start the final.

"I don't know the context of Tottenham. What I know is the last game against Bilbao, we had that game and then we rested some players because we were afraid of some injuries," said Amorim.

"Then we had a full week to prepare for the game and I felt, with five days to the final, the best thing to prepare for the final was to give time to the players - the best way to prepare something is to compete."

Tottenham held a team barbecue at their Hotspur Way training ground at the weekend, which Postecoglou says was player-driven, before arriving in Bilbao on Monday afternoon, taking up residence in a hotel right in the heart of the city.

"It was very important, being together, talking about life," said captain Son Heung-min. "It feels like we are getting even closer."

"This bonding experience is very important," added right-back Pedro Porro. "The team is like our family. It's very good to talk about life with our team-mates, too."

United arrived a day later and opted to stay slightly further away from the stadium - only three miles, so not exactly a long journey.

United also decided against taking up the option of a final training session in the match stadium. Most clubs these days don't train in the matchday venue before European games.

The benefits of this are twofold. Firstly, it is far easier to keep their own training grounds secure and stop the opposition spying on them. Secondly, there is familiarity and ease of access to equipment, such as drones, that are now a vital part of team preparation.

In all likelihood, Tottenham won't do anything of note in their final session at the San Mames stadium. But it will allow them to get the feel of the iconic ground.

United will do a walk round instead. In fairness, it is only three weeks since they beat Athletic Club 3-0 there in the first leg of their semi-final, so the need to get accustomed to their surroundings is not the same.

"As the players we just think about what we have ahead of us, and what we have ahead of us is the chance to get our hands on a trophy," explained United captain Bruno Fernandes.

Team meetings and rest, interspersed with a lunchtime stroll, are the recognised ways of passing the time until it comes to leaving for the stadium on match night, arriving about 90 minutes before kick-off.

It is that point at which key figures in the dressing room step up.

Gary Pallister, a member of the United team which beat Crystal Palace in the 1990 FA Cup final to secure the first - and most pivotal - trophy of Sir Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford career - remembers the influence captain Bryan Robson had in those moments.

"When Robbo was there, we were a different team," said Pallister. "He was injured so often that season. But when he played, you could almost feel it in the dressing room 'Robbo's here, everything will be OK. He will sort it out'.

"We were a team that relied on that. Over time, we had to learn to play without him but at that point, when he was out of the team, I felt we were a bit rudderless.

"He had played in two finals by then, whereas for me, I was going out to play in the biggest match [of the year], the game we grew up with as kids, the most special day of the year.

"I was thinking about my parents in the crowd, your friends and family, the 'Oh my God, I am playing live in front of the whole nation'. That brings its own nervousness.

"But that day at Wembley, Robbo was such a calming influence. He spoke to us and settled us down, on and off the pitch."

Lilian Thuram was a key member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning side, helping the hosts beat Brazil 3-0 in the final in Paris - a game that was preceded by rumours that the visitors' star man Ronaldo would miss out.

"We were all convinced it was a ploy by the Brazilians to make us believe that Ronaldo wouldn't be able to play," said Thuram. "We thought 'no way, Ronaldo is playing the match, they are just making this up to try and fool us'.

"During the match you are so completely focused on the task in hand, you are not really aware whether a player is at their top level or not. You can't worry about whether Ronaldo is off today."

Despite suffering from a convulsion hours before the final. Ronaldo did play, but France overcame their pre-tournament doubters to prevail as world champions for the first time.

"There were an awful lot of top-level players who had played a lot of finals, we knew if you wanted to win you needed to block out the noise and drama around it and prepare for the match that was coming," added Thuram.

"It was a dream match for the players, a dream match for the public, this really focused minds. It was a great occasion, but we had no doubt we were going to win that final."

The prize for Spurs and United, as outlined, is a big one - the difference between success and failure is huge.

"I can't think of one in recent seasons where the extremes are so polar opposite," said Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn.

"That really adds to the occasion and the pressure. I can't remember a game which was so highly pressurised for both teams."

On Saturday, Crystal Palace beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup - it had taken 35 years to get their hands on the trophy after missing out in 1990. For United, it was the start of something big.

Even though their only significant addition in that summer was Denis Irwin, with a teenage Lee Sharpe also starting to emerge, United were a different team from then on.

They finished sixth in the league in 1991 and won the European Cup Winners' Cup, beating a Barcelona side who would go on to win the European Cup the following year.

And after blowing the race for the league title 1992, they finally won it in 1993.

Something unquantifiable happened in 1990 that went far beyond winning a single match.

"Even before the final in 1990, the gaffer used to say 'winning a trophy will give you a kick-start'," said Pallister. "I am guessing that was from his Aberdeen days as they progressed and broke the Old Firm [Celtic and Rangers].

"The FA Cup was massive back then. Winning it gives the dressing room such a boost. It gives you belief you can win. Once you had that, it gave you the momentum to go into the following season.

"From that, we beat Barcelona. It gave us the certainty we could get better and we could push on. That is what we did."

France's World Cup victory in 1998, meanwhile, not only set the platform for European Championship success two years later, but the diverse, multi-cultural Les Bleus squad united a country that was conflicted over issues of immigration and discrimination.

"Those memories will be with me forever," said Thuram. "All of the different people of France who came out to celebrate that team, it is something that keeps me going - that there was a big group of people within the country that believed in that team and what it represented.

"That victory in 1998 helped to give people greater courage and that desire to speak out about equality and injustice, and to demand greater equality."

For Tottenham or Manchester United, a door to creating their own legacy is about to open. No-one can be certain where it will lead.

Want to follow along with the Europa League final but not sure who to support?

No problem! We've put together a quiz to determine whether you should be getting behind Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United... and if you don't like it, just sit back and enjoy the game.

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Never in the history of European competition has a final been played between two teams so out of form.

The winners of Wednesday's Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham in Bilbao could be the lowest league finishers ever to win a major European trophy.

And they will certainly become the lowest team to ever qualify for the European Cup or Champions League.

United sit in 16th place in the Premier League, with Spurs 17th - and a combined 39 league defeats.

The only league games either have won since 2 February have been against sides who were relegated - or each other.

Their points tally could have had them relegated in some previous seasons.

"I can't remember such a game which was so highly pressurised for both teams," said former Celtic striker Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

And yet one of them will celebrate glory - and a return to the riches of the Champions League next season.

BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel and chief football news reporter Simon Stone, who will both be at San Mames for the final, have had their say on whose season has been worse.

Mokbel on Spurs: "Underperformed, underachieved, unacceptable. Domestically, at least.

"While Tottenham will cling on to hope of somehow turning a catastrophic season into a historic one, there can be no running away from the fact that results and performances have been largely disastrous.

"Twenty-one defeats in the Premier League and counting. Of course, all that will be forgotten if Spurs lift the Europa League trophy on Wednesday night.

"Whether that is enough to keep Ange Postecoglou in a job, however, is the million-dollar question with all the indications pointing towards the Australian departing regardless of the outcome in Bilbao.

"The fact Postecoglou's tenure in north London looks set to end imminently illustrates just how pitiful their domestic campaign has been.

"In their defence, injuries have debilitated Tottenham's season. They have lost key players for long periods of time.

"But this is an expensively-assembled Tottenham squad - one that includes the club-record £65m signing of Dominic Solanke.

"United are in a season of transition, having changed managers midway through the season.

"It's different for Tottenham. Following Postecoglou's encouraging first season in charge, in which Spurs finished fifth, this was a team set up to compete for Champions League qualification.

"Instead, they could finish one place above the relegation zone. That's undeniably poor."

Stone on United: "Manchester United have been worse because much of the damage has been self-inflicted.

"United were the ones who reflected on Erik ten Hag's tenure, both in the wake of their 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last May, then after the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, and decided to stick with him.

"United gave him money to spend, specifically on Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee in the summer, then sacked him after nine games.

"And United told Ruben Amorim he had to start immediately, not wait until the summer to join from Sporting.

"Now, the safety net is Bilbao and then that United hit the ground running at the start of next season, which would justify the refusal to wait for Amorim.

"But, in the here and now, United have been woeful.

"There have been periods in games when they have looked fluid and their passing triangles have worked.

"However, Rasmus Hojlund has not looked a threat at one end of the field and basic mistakes have undermined them at the other.

"With six minutes left of extra time in their Europa League quarter-final against 10-man Lyon, it was not easy to strike a single optimistic note on United's behalf. Somehow, they rescued themselves.

"Since then, United have got one point from five Premier League games. No-one has done worse than that.

"By any measure, this is United's worst season since the 1973-74 relegation campaign. And they announced financial losses of £113.2m last September.

"To spend so much and be so bad really takes some doing."

Only two teams have won a European trophy after finishing below 12th in their domestic league.

That includes the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, Uefa Cup, European Cup, Champions League, Europa League and newish Conference League.

The lowest-ranked team yet was West Ham just two seasons ago when they finished 14th in the Premier League but won the third-tier Conference League.

The highest Manchester United or Spurs can finish is 14th - with several results having to go their way.

The other lowest finishes have all come in various iterations of the Europa League.

Inter Milan finished 13th out of 18 teams in Serie A in 1993-94, only staying up by one point (in the old system of two points for a win), but won the Uefa Cup.

And a team finishing 12th have won it three times - Arsenal in the 1969-70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Schalke in the 1996-97 Uefa Cup and Sevilla in the 2022-23 Europa League.

That Sevilla team are the lowest-placed to have ever qualified for the European Cup or Champions League - until now.

Former Chelsea player Sutton said: "There's not going to be a great deal of quality on show.

"Both sets of players will be apprehensive and nervous."

On Amorim and Postecoglou making changes in recent Premier League games, he added: "I don't understand why they are gripped by fear. Both managers want to go into the cup final with momentum.

"That really adds to the occasion and the pressure."

Both sides will be desperate to win this match, but their incentives are quite distinct.

For Tottenham, this would be a first trophy since the 2008 Carabao Cup and their first European trophy since 1984.

It would vindicate Postecoglou's early-season declaration that he always wins a trophy in his second season.

And somehow their worst domestic season since the 1970s could turn out to be their best in years.

"I'm sure if that happens on Wednesday night Ange will be smug walking off the pitch and say 'see you later, I've told you what I do mate'," said former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given.

Sutton reckons if Spurs lose, Postecoglou may not even be in charge for the final game of the Premier League season at home to Brighton on Sunday.

"If Postecoglou wins he'll be hailed," said the former Blackburn forward. "But just imagine the atmosphere against Brighton if Tottenham lose.

"I suspect he might not be in charge if that happens because that will be as toxic as anything."

For Manchester United - who have won domestic cups in the past two seasons - Champions League qualification is the ultimate goal here.

"Financially, it's the most important match in the club's history," says football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

Sutton feels the game is a potential "get-out-of-jail-free card" for Amorim.

The Portuguese, who is hoping to oversee a summer rebuild, said: "I think [qualifying for the] Champions League is more important for everything, to prepare the next season.

"We are supposed to be in the Champions League and the Europa League here is not enough, you have that feeling here. The best way to help us get to the top in a few years is the Champions League."

Planes, trains and cars: Spurs fans head to Bilbao

Chris Slegg in Bilbao & Harry Low

BBC News

As T ottenham Hotspur go in search of European silverware in Spain, many of their supporters are also determined to be in Bilbao for the Europa League final.

Four fans are finding northern Spain a tough place to go but have given it 110% to arrange different modes of transport to get to the game against Manchester United - and back home again (it is, after all, a game of two halves).

Compare the cost (return, per person), convenience and journey time of each pilgrimage to the coastal city.

Three trains, one car journey

Andy Bass: Duration of 22 hours, cost of £600

Mr Bass is travelling with his father who took him to his first Spurs FA Cup final - the 1987 loss to Coventry City - and his 14-year-old nephew.

Hopefully, the lads will put in a great shift - their journey starts in Radlett in Hertfordshire, from where they will take a train to King's Cross St Pancras.

Then it's the Eurostar to Paris followed by a sleeper train to Dax in south-west France.

They finish by hiring a car and driving to Bilbao.

Mr Bass said he hoped trains "might be more reliable than air travel" after the past few years, but accepts "as ever, these things are out of my hands".

And as for the result?

"Both sides have performed poorly this season but I'm excited - we've really got a shot at winning this - but supporting Spurs in the final is something I wouldn't miss."

Honestly, you couldn't write a script like this.

Two buses, two trains, one flight

Emma de Duve: Duration of 13 hours, cost of £300

Ms de Duve is travelling to the game with her dad and sister and the journey will start with a bus to San Sebastian.

The 26-year-old said: "I'm not sure that it is going to be worth it - I've had a season ticket for 20 years and I've only seen one trophy in my life so I'm really hoping that this is going to be number two.

"I think it's also a massive thing for us to go on a nice trip.

"I'm hoping it is going to be worth it but time will tell - I'm a Tottenham fan so I'm not actually too optimistic."

They booked their accommodation nearly a year ago when Spurs qualified for the competition.

Ms de Duve said: "Obviously we're there for the football but I think being there are going be so many Tottenham fans - the atmosphere is going to be so good.

"Hopefully the weather is going to be nice. I've never been to Bilbao, so I'm also looking forward exploring a new city.

"I think an all-English final makes it a bit exciting so I'm looking forward to the whole trip."

At the end of the day, it's a funny old game.

Two flights, one car journey

Michael Green: Duration of 14 hours, cost of £330

The chair of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust is taking two flights to reach northern Spain.

Starting at Gatwick, he will fly to Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, where he will take a second flight to the French coastal town of Biarritz before driving to the game.

He said: "It will mean an awful lot to all fans. We've been waiting for so long.

"We obviously had the near miss in 2019 [Champions league final] and that that was a magical adventure, given the the nature of some of the games we played en route to the Champions League final, but ultimately it wasn't to be.

"To go one better this time around will mean so much to so many people."

To be fair, a win is a win. Literally.

Four car journeys, one flight

Richie Moore: Duration of 29 hours, cost of £300

Liverpool-based Spurs fan Mr Moore booked his flight after the quarter final win over Frankfurt for £45 return. After driving down to Stansted to fly to Limoges in France, he will hire a car to cross the continent.

He said: "We don't do it often - we're Spurs fans. Even though only one of us has got a match ticket and the other four haven't... we're still travelling.

"Unless you're a football fan, you wouldn't understand just being part of the whole emotion, the whole atmosphere, the camaraderie, the banter and the experience of mixing with like-minded people that just want to experience that kind of event.

"Even if you lose, it's alright. Don't get me wrong, winning is brilliant but losing isn't the worst case. It's just being together having a laugh."

He's good, but could he do it on a cold, wet Tuesday night in Stoke?

The 2024-25 UEFA Europa League final will be the sixth all-English major European competition final, and the third of those to involve Tottenham Hotspur, after the 1971-72 UEFA Cup final (won 3-2 on aggregate v Wolves) and the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League final (lost 0-2 to Liverpool).

This will be the fourth UEFA Europa League final to be contested between two sides from the same nation, after 2011 (Porto 1-0 Sporting Braga), 2012 (Atlético Madrid 3-0 Athletic Club), and 2019 (Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal).

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United’s only previous meeting in major European competition came in the 1963-64 Cup Winners’ Cup last 16, with the Red Devils progressing 4-3 on aggregate over two legs under Matt Busby.

Tottenham Hotspur have won all three of their meetings with Manchester United in all competitions so far this season, twice in the Premier League (3-0 away, 1-0 home) and once in the League Cup (4-3 at home). The only opponent Spurs have ever won four games against in a single campaign were Manchester City in 1992-93, while the only side to beat the Red Devils four times in a single season were Everton in 1985-86.

Manchester United are winless in their last six meetings with Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions (D2 L4), losing their last three in a row. The Red Devils have never gone seven without a win against Spurs before, and have also never lost four successive matches against them.

Manchester United remain the only unbeaten side in major European competition this season, winning nine and drawing five of their 14 UEFA Europa League games. They are looking to become only the fourth side to win the Europa League without losing a single match that campaign, after Chelsea in 2018-19, Villarreal in 2020-21, and Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021-22.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to win their first major trophy since the 2007-08 League Cup under Juande Ramos, 17 years and 86 days prior to this UEFA Europa League final. Spurs’ last major European title was the 1983-84 UEFA Cup under Keith Burkinshaw, 40 years and 363 days ago.

This will be Manchester United’s ninth major European final, with only Liverpool (15) reaching more among English clubs. The Red Devils have failed to win three of their last four such finals – Barcelona in the 2008-09 and 2010-11 UEFA Champions Leagues, and Villarreal in the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League – winning the other 2-0 against Ajax in the 2016-17 Europa League.

Tottenham Hotspur have won the UEFA Cup/Europa League twice previously (1972, 1984), while victory here would see them become the second English club to win it three times, along with Liverpool. The only side to win the competition on more than three occasions are Sevilla (7).

Tottenham Hotspur have won nine of their 14 matches in this season’s UEFA Europa League (D3 L2), their most ever wins in a single campaign in major European competition, overtaking their eight in 1971-72, 1973-74, and 2006-07 (all UEFA Cup).

Manchester United have scored 35 goals in this season’s UEFA Europa League; the only sides ever to score more in a single UEFA Cup/Europa League campaign are Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1972-73 (36), Porto in 2010-11 (37), and Chelsea in 2018-19 (36).

Only Athletic Club (30) have had more shots following high turnovers than both Manchester United (23) and Tottenham Hotspur (22) in this season’s UEFA Europa League. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are also joint-top of the 2024-25 competition for direct attacks (32, level with Lyon).

Ruben Amorim is looking to become only the third manager to win a major trophy in his first season in charge of Manchester United, after José Mourinho in 2016-17 (League Cup & UEFA Europa League) and Erik ten Hag in 2022-23 (League Cup). Amorim also could become only the third manager to win a major European title with an English club while aged 40 or younger, after Howard Kendall (1984-85 Cup Winners’ Cup with Everton, 38) and Gianluca Vialli (1997-98 Cup Winners’ Cup with Chelsea, 33).

Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou is the first Australian manager ever to lead a side to a major European final. It’s the first time a manager from a particular nation has taken charge of a major European final for the first time since Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjær lost the 2021 UEFA Europa League final on penalties to Villarreal with Manchester United.

Only Rayan Cherki (12) has been directly involved in more UEFA Europa League goals this season than Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (11 – 7 goals, 4 assists). Indeed, the only player to be involved in more for an English club in a single campaign in the competition was Olivier Giroud for Chelsea in 2018-19 (15 – 11 goals, 4 assists).

Tottenham Hotspur forward Dominic Solanke has scored in each of his last four appearances against Manchester United in all competitions (5 goals). Since Alex Ferguson left the Red Devils in 2013, only one player has scored in 5+ consecutive appearances against them, with Mo Salah doing so in six in a row from January 2021 to March 2023.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (7 goals, 4 assists), and Tottenham Hotspur’s Dominic Solanke (5 goals, 4 assists) each require one assist to record both 5+ goals and 5+ assists in this season’s UEFA Europa League, a feat only two players have achieved previously: Kevin De Bruyne in 2014-15 (5 goals, 5 assists), and Giuliano in 2016-17 (8 goals, 6 assists).

An emotional Ange Postecoglou angrily refuted the suggestion he is a "clown" in a combative news conference on the eve of Tottenham's Europa League final against Manchester United.

Referencing a report in the Standard, external which said he was "teetering between hero and clown" depending on the result in Bilbao, Spurs boss Postecoglou defended his managerial record despite his side's poor domestic season.

In Wednesday's final, Tottenham will either end a 17-year wait for a trophy or finish the campaign empty-handed again, on the back of their worst campaign since the club returned to the top flight in 1978.

Speaking at San Mames Stadium, Postecoglou veered from simmering discontent to his voice cracking with emotion as he recounted his personal journey and that of his family.

He brought the conversation back to the article when the reporter who wrote it pointed out this season could become one of the best or worst in the club's "modern history" and the Australian was veering a fine line "between two very different types of infamy".

"Irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be," said Postecoglou.

"You really disappointed me that you used such terminology to describe a person that for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, has worked his way to a position where he is leading out a club in a European final.

"For you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I'm a clown, I'm not sure how to answer that question."

Postecoglou was born in Athens but emigrated to Australia with his family when he was five.

After winning four international caps as a player, he embarked on a stellar coaching career that included spells with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory, before taking over the Australia national side.

He moved on to Japan with Yokohama F Marinos, then joined Celtic in 2021 and Tottenham in 2023.

Postecoglou evidently feels, regardless of whether Tottenham win or not tomorrow, he is a success story given where he has come from.

"My parents left everything they knew because of their children, because of me, I hold that dear to my heart," he added.

"I was born in Greece. My father made sure I knew what it means to be Greek. Then I grew up in Australia, where football is not a prominent sport.

"I feel that very strongly. In Australia, when it comes to sport, you will take on anyone, it doesn't matter how big and strong they are."

Immediately before his manager spoke to the media, Tottenham captain Son Heung-min had done so alongside full-back Pedro Porro.

Along with Ben Davies, Son is the remaining link to the team beaten by Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final.

That loss still stings, judging by Son's "I still don't think it was a penalty" response to a question about the game, referring to the contentious first-minute spot-kick for handball against Moussa Sissoko that offered Liverpool a chance to establish a lead they never seriously looked like losing.

Son's participation in Wednesday's final had been in doubt due to a foot injury that kept him out for a month prior to the home defeat by Crystal Palace on 11 May.

But, during Tuesday evening's open training session, Postecoglou appeared to indicate the 32-year-old would start as he operated a three-man attack that also included Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert in the number 10 role behind striker Dominic Solanke.

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall have all been ruled out of the game through injury and, if Postecoglou sticks with that formation tomorrow night, it would mean Brazilian forward Richarlison starts on the bench.

'United deserve to win as Spurs always bottle it'

Davina Ramos

BBC News Manchester

Paul Burnell

BBC News, Manchester

Manchester United fans were brimming with confidence as they jetted off to Spain for their make-or-break all-English Europa League Final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Supporters have been making the trip from Manchester Airport to Bilbao ahead of the game at San Mames stadium tomorrow night.

The prize for the teams whose Premier League form has been poor is a coveted place in next seasons Champions League.

Travelling fan Sam Mikelson said: "I'm nervous, excited, and all of the above – it's been a tough season, but we always find a way through."

Married couple Jim and Linda Baughan, who have followed the Red Devils for 40 years, said their club has struggled in the league.

But Linda said: "I'm always confident we are gong to win and we deserve it."

But Jim was not sure, and said: "We don't really deserve anything the way we play in the league, but in games like these anything can happen - in the last round we were dead and buried at 4-2."

Linda said: "It will have cost £5,000 between us and – as we said in Moscow [in the 2008 Champions League Final] it was worth every rouble."

Friends Bob Firth and Nathan Hall said they were optimistic about the prospect of victory over Spurs due to United's form in the Europa League.

"We seem to be up for it in Europe," said Nathan.

Bob said: "It is not going to be a cheap two days but it will be worth it - United have been on fire this year and Tottenham always bottle it."

Father and son Andy and Sam Warburton were less bullish than other fans.

Andy said: "I'm nervous, you never know which United you will get - I do know Ruben Amorim is the best man for the job and the club should back him next season."

His son Sam said he was feeling a mixture of excitement and tension.

"It is my first European final and I am really nervous - Spurs have beaten us three times this season", he said.

"It's a really hard call as both teams have not had a great season," said Andrew Winton.

He added: "We put seven past the best defence in La Liga, so on that form we deserve it but not on our league results."

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How far would you go to follow your team, and what lengths would you go to?

Up to 80,000 Manchester United and Tottenham fans are expected to descend on Bilbao, a city with a population of about 350,000, for the Europa League final on Wednesday.

The city's airport has reinforced its border control with National Police staff as it prepares to handle three times the usual number of flights, including 174 private jets.

But owing to the expensive prices of direct flights and limited accommodation - Bilbao has an estimated 13,000 hotel beds - many supporters are following creative itineraries to be on the ground in Spain for the final.

For Manchester United fan Dave, the 33-hour ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao was a "bucket-list" trip.

Travelling solo to the final, he left his home in Derby on Sunday morning, taking the train to Portsmouth via London Waterloo, and docked in Spain at 07:00 BST on Tuesday, making plenty of new friends along the way.

"I'm feeling bright and fresh - not - but it's been a good journey. I've met loads of people. I've travelled on my own, so lots of opposition fans, lots of neutrals, some Americans," he told BBC Sport.

"It was a bucket-list thing to do this journey. I never got on the Pride of Bilbao [ferry] but I've done it now. I'm looking forward to the sights of Bilbao, the food's apparently quite good. It's my first time in the Basque country."

Though "nervous" about United's chances, he hopes the final will be an advert for the best of English football.

"I just hope United put a bit of class on the pitch and give us a bit back," he said. "And it's enjoyable for everyone, neutrals and fans alike, to showcase Premier League football."

Ben, a Tottenham fan from London, was on the same ferry. After some initial hiccups travelling via train and taxi to Portsmouth, he enjoyed the unexpected wildlife encounters and fan interactions at sea.

"The ferry was lovely. Did a bit of whale watching, saw dolphins, which I wasn't expecting," Ben said.

"There were lots of holidaymakers who were quite surprised when Sol Campbell songs were being sung last night. It was a good laugh - United fans and Spurs fans all sitting together."

Fellow Tottenham fan Ryan from Southampton, who is watching his side abroad for the first time, added: "I felt a bit seasick at the start but it's all good. I'm excited to be here and it's going to be incredible.

"We played games on the ferry, sat on the rooftops, a few beers here and there, getting excited for it. I'm hoping we win."

Manchester United supporter Sue McGranigan is taking a different route to the final, opting instead to traverse the full length of France by road.

She set off by coach at 02:45 BST on Tuesday morning and will arrive in Bilbao around Wednesday lunchtime following a ferry from Dover to Calais, a nine-hour coach to Bordeaux, where she will stay overnight, and a final four-hour coach ride to the Spanish city on the morning of the match.

"It's a lot cheaper. It's cost about £350 to come on the coach whereas direct flights were £900. It's a long journey – I've had about half-an-hour's sleep," she said, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live from just outside London.

"But the coach is very quiet. It's all United fans and I thought they'd be drinking and singing, but it's really peaceful."

United fan Ashley found a picturesque solution to the city's accommodation shortage, booking a pitch on a caravan park overlooking San Mames Stadium.

He met up with his son in Madrid on Monday, hired an RV and stayed overnight in Burgos before setting up camp in Bilbao.

Chief constable Mark Roberts, national lead for football policing, says the Football Policing Unit, Greater Manchester Police, and the Metropolitan Police have been liaising with local police and Uefa to ensure all fans have a positive experience.

More than 3,000 police officers will be deployed across the city, with a three security rings around the stadium restricting access to ticket holders and local residents from Wednesday morning.

Roberts encouraged fans without a ticket not to travel to Bilbao and said British police will be on hand to "act as a liaison" and assist with information and communication.

Each team was allocated around 15,000 tickets, with the remainder given to Uefa sponsors or bought by neutrals.

"Bilbao is a beautiful city and the local police and people are keen to welcome fans. But it's not the biggest city and the biggest concern is the ability for Bilbao to soak up those additional people if they haven't got a ticket. Our advice would be if people haven't got a ticket, consider not travelling," he said.

"Some police forces still have an impression of English fans based on the 1980s - it's quite outdated. We're keen to push the intelligence and say treat supporters from this country based on behaviour, not perception.

"[My message to fans is] go and have a great time. It's a special event and I'm sure there'll be a great atmosphere, whatever the result. It's a beautiful city - just be a good guest. Everyone's there wanting to support you to have a great time."

Disabled fans of Manchester United and Tottenham have criticised the number of wheelchair tickets available for the Europa League final as "insulting" - with both clubs given 26 tickets each in a near 50,000-capacity Bilbao stadium.

Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association and Spurs Ability, the fan groups representing disabled supporters, have expressed anger at the size of the allocation, which includes an additional 15 'easy access' seats, from an allocation of 15,000 tickets per club.

In response, competition organiser Uefa said it had provided 75 wheelchair positions - including neutral spaces - at the San Mames stadium, with free companion seat and guaranteed sightlines.

Uefa said 15% of those tickets remained unsold and available for purchase as of Tuesday morning. Both fan groups disputed this claim to BBC Sport.

The stadium, home to Spanish top-flight side Athletic Bilbao, has a capacity of more than 53,000 but this has been reduced to 49,600 for the final on Wednesday.

The stadium is usually capable of hosting 208 wheelchair and 102 easy access seats. That falls slightly short of the recommended provision in Uefa's own guidelines for stadiums of its size.

But the two supporters' groups and the disabled sports charity Level Playing Field have calculated that even within the San Mames' limitations, both clubs should still have 58 wheelchair spaces and a further 28 easy access tickets.

Spurs Ability member Mark Spencer has spinal injuries but is not in a wheelchair. He has travelled to Bilbao by car without a ticket to watch the match in a fan park.

He told BBC Sport: "To say I'm gutted is an understatement. I wasn't able to go to Madrid for the Champions League [final] in 2019 and I thought this might be my chance - but Uefa have just not given us the percentage of seating that they should be giving us under their own rules and regulations.

"You feel that you're being prevented from watching football and supporting your team because of a disability so it's quite insulting and very disappointing."

Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association secretary Rick Clement said: "Uefa, ultimately, have a responsibility to football fans to support your team. That should include people with disabilities."

Dr Rita Egan, another member of Spurs Ability, said the group has been "dismayed" by the allocation and accused Uefa of having "ignored" complaints by not replying to correspondence.

Level Playing Field chair Tony Taylor said: "We have seen another failure from Uefa at a showpiece event.

"Accountability has been lacking before and now we can see more disregard for disabled fans, which ignores the governing body's own guidance and under-utilises the facilities available, without adequate justification."

In response, Uefa said it was "working hard to improve both standards and experiences" for disabled fans and that it took into account "the quality of sightlines", "historical demand" and the ratio between capacity and accessible seating.

It stated that for the Women's Champions League final last year at the same stadium, 59 of the 60 allocated seats were sold, and for the men's Europa League final last season between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin, only 41 of the 93 allocated seats were sold.

Uefa also told BBC Sport that it "investigated solutions" for more accessible seats and spoke to disability access officers at United and Spurs.

European football's governing body added: "While both indicated they could sell more accessible tickets, they also expressed a preference for maintaining the current allocations rather than increasing numbers at the expense of seat quality."