Daily Mail

Rio Ferdinand has highlighted one specific worry he has for Man United in the Europa League final against Tottenham.

United will take on Spurs in Bilbao on Wednesday night in the showpiece event as Ruben Amorim's side aim to rescue what has been a dismal season.

Things haven't been much better for Tottenham, with the North London club one place below United in 17th in the Premier League after 21 defeats in 37 games.

The winner of the clash will secure a spot in next season's Champions League, meaning it could prove to be a real sliding doors moment for both clubs.

However, Ferdinand has expressed his concerns over United's physical inferiority and believes this weakness could be exposed against Premier League opposition.

‘The worrying thing for me from a Man United perspective is that physically we can’t keep up with any team in the Premier League,' he told talkSPORT.

‘If they go man-to-man and go toe-to-toe with us we’re at a disadvantage because our profile of our players at Man United are not players that can run as hard and as fast, and as long, and they’re not as powerful as other teams.

‘That’s a big thing in the Premier League. In the Europa, we’re overpowering every team.

'There’s only one team I’ve watched us play against in the Europa League that we struggled against and thought “Ooh, that was a bit too close for comfort.” Rangers, who are more akin to a Premier League side, physically.

‘So that’s the concern for me in the final playing against a Premier League team, who have beaten us three times, that physically can, minimum, match us.’

Despite Ferdinand's concerns, Amorim's side remain unbeaten in Europe and they have knocked out Real Sociedad, Lyon and Athletic Bilbao en route to the final.

However, as Ferdinand alludes to, United have been beaten by Spurs three times in the league this season and they have lost 18 of their 37 top flight fixtures.

And given the fluctuations in their performances, Ferdinand admitted that he is unsure which version of United will turn up in Bilbao.

‘I have to be honest, I can’t call a Man United result,' he told Optus Sport. 'They’re so inconsistent or they have consistently been bad in the Premier League.'

‘But the fact that they are playing against Spurs, another consistently bad team in the Premier League. But they have players who can win a match. It makes it such a hard game to call.

‘I don’t think the fans can be too surprised (if Spurs win). They beat us three times already this season, so it’s not going to be a surprise if they beat us a fourth time.

‘I think it’s only going to be stupid people that are going, “Oh my god, I can’t believe this.”

‘We’re 16th because we’ve lost a lot of games. 18 Premier League games we’ve lost this season. Anyone who’s surprised if we don’t win this game against Spurs is a lunatic in my eyes.’

Manchester United and Tottenham fans have started a series of epic journeys to get to Bilbao for the Europa League final on Wednesday night.

The prohibitive flight and hotel prices mean supporters have taken travel arrangements into their own hands, with boats and campervans being dusted off for the adventure.

Around 47,000 fans are expected to make the journey, with each club being allocated 15,000 tickets for the night at San Mames. The spare 17,000 - 15,000 of which are Spurs fans - will be going along ticketless.

Exteberria Park, around 45 minutes on foot from the ground, is being converted into a gigantic Manchester United fan zone with 56,000 pints of lager being imported, according to local outlet El Correo.

And fans have been sharing their odysseys - across road, sea, and sky - in what has become a thriving niche online community.

One seafaring chap posted a picture of a boat in a canal on Sunday morning, writing: 'En-Route to Bilbao. Over bay of Biscay, should arrive Tuesday night.'

A three-day journey, then. On Monday morning, the supporter gave an update with a video from the Bay of Biscay, claiming there was 'better phone signal on the moon'.

'One hundred per cent you're sinking in that,' warned one follower on X.

'Daft lad,' Josh hit back. 'We’ve had this boat in the Med for the last 10+ years, this boat has seen it all.'

Another United fan kitted out his Ford campervan with club memorabilia just to get on the nerves of a Tottenham fan he was picking up.

'There will probably be some fights along the way on this trip, but we'll see how we get on,' he joked.

It hasn't all been fall-outs, though - in one clip, the pair clinked a couple of bottles of Corona and looked out over a beach vista as they prepared sandwiches.

Elsewhere, fans explained the circuitous routes they would be taking by plane to get to northern Spain.

One would be flying to Rome, then Santander, before a coach journey traversing the top of Spain. The way back will involve a flight out of the continent to Marrakesh in Morocco.

'They'll kill me one day, up the Spurs,' came their can-do attitude.

Others will take in journeys via Venice, Amsterdam, and Milan.

One fan joked they might take a llama across the Pyrenees.

Manchester United and Tottenham will meet in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.

Despite their woeful domestic form, they find themselves in the position to win a golden ticket to the Champions League.

With the clubs sat 16th and 17th in the Premier League, this will be the worst final in terms of table position in the competitions history.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering Ajax manager Francesco Farioli as a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou.

Farioli, 36, took charge of the Dutch side at the start of this season having previously managed French side Nice and Turkish team Alanyaspor.

According to The Sun, he is thought to be one of the potential successors to Postecoglou, whose job is said to be in danger whether or not Spurs win the Europa League.

While the Italian manager is highly-regarded thanks to the job he has done in Amsterdam this season, he had to deal with heartbreak on the final day of the Eredivisie campaign on Sunday.

Having led the Dutch league comfortably by nine points with seven games to go, Ajax stumbled badly in the run-in to allow rivals PSV to pip them to the title.

However, Farioli is still thought to be admired by his fellow Italian Fabio Paratici, who could return to the north London side following his ban from the sport.

Paratici, 56, was the Lilywhites' managing director of football between 2021 and 2023 before he was banned for actions relating to financial malpractice while he was at Serie A giants Juventus.

That saw him kept away from the sport in a worldwide ban imposed by the Italian FA and later extended globally by FIFA for false accounting.

While Spurs do have a chance at securing a first trophy since the 2008 League Cup, their league form under Postecoglou has been wretched.

Following Friday night's 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, they sit 17th in the Premier League with just 38 points from 37 games.

Given that they lie just one place below their Europa League final opponents Manchester United, the showdown in Bilbao takes on extra significance, with the winner securing automatic entry to next season's Champions League.

In the lead-up to the final, Postecoglou has challenged his players to break the team's trophy drought by performing at their best when it matters most.

He said: 'Until you actually do it, then you are fair game for people to say ''you've always kind of fluffed it on the big stage'' and what you've got to try and do is break that cycle.

'There has to be a higher purpose than shutting people's mouths up. I think it is more about ''can you make an impact?'''

'I often say to the players that at the end of your careers, what you want to be able to do is go back to the clubs you served and know you've made an impact.'

The winner-takes-all final will be played at Athletic Club's San Mames stadium on Wednesday, May 21.

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Manchester United and Tottenham fans have compared a £550 hostel room to Squid Game's dormitory as they struggle to find accommodation amid an extortionate price surge ahead of their Europa League final clash.

Bilbao is expecting 80,000 supporters to descend on the Spanish city with residents braced for an invasion on a scale they have 'never faced' before, according to reports in Spain.

Fans will be forced to fork out thousands of pounds or face sleeping on the streets because of high accommodation costs.

Prices have shot up 900% after the all English tie was confirmed, with fans clamouring to see their teams seize a place in next season's Champions League.

The cheapest apartment still available on Booking.com is a costly £1,030 for just a two night stay, with the most expensive a staggering £13,520.

While one comparatively cut price option would involve staying at the Bilbao Metropolitan Hostel, labelled 'Squid Game' accommodation by fans, for £551.

'Sleeping in Squid Game for 2k,' one Man United fan wrote on X, after seeing the cost of a three night stay.

Even those opting for a budget stay in a 10-bed shared hostel at the All Iron Hostel will have to stump up £226 for two nights.

One three-star hotel, the Hotel Ilunion Bilbao, a 10-minute walk from the San Mames stadium has no availabilty but priced its cheapest room at £2,444 a night.

The astronomical prices mean some supporters will take to staying in cars or vans as they scramble to the Basque city.

While others are even considering sleeping rough on the streets, according to El Correo.

The bad news for fans doesn't end there and they have been warned they will face sky-high beer prices having already splashed on expensive travel costs.

Last Friday, MailSport reported the cheapest flight to get from London to Bilbao on May 21 would run Spurs fans a whopping £355 for a one-way ticket.

At the time of writing, a return flight leaving London Gatwick on May 21 and returning on May 22 starts at £668, as per Skyscanner.

And local vendors are expected to exploit the explosion of visitors and raise prices.

However, Basque Consumers and Users Organization delegate Kepa Loizaga has criticised the practice that has seen prices balloon '7, 8, and even 9 times'.

Loizaga urged bars and restaurants to 'not sell pints of beer for 10 euros' as was the case during the European rugby cup finals in 2018.

Additionally, he hit out at the 'disproportionate and exorbitant' pricing policy carried out by many of Bilbao hoteliers and also issued a warning to the city about the image it is projecting to the world.

'We already know that almost all businesses operate according to supply and demand, both flights and accommodations,' he told Bilbao outlet El Correo. 'There are no limits on increases or decreases. Everyone sells their product as they wish.'

He added: 'What we are conveying to the rest of the world is very negative.

Spurs fans are expected to outnumber United supporters with thousands travelling ticketless.

While both clubs have been allocated 15,000 for San Mamés, it is believed the same number of ticketless Spurs fans will travel to Bilbao, compared to around 2,000 followers of United in a similar position.

Although Spurs reached the Champions League final, their comparative lack of European success is thought to be behind the greater numbers.

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Before 2019, their last appearance at a European final came in 1984.

United last reached the Europa League final in 2021, and won it in 2017.

Tottenham employees will be among their travelling crowd, after the north London club offered a complimentary ticket to every full-time employee.

While no such luxury was provided by United, who instead held a ballot with a small number of tickets available for their staff.

For the majority, they are hosting a screening in Manchester with the invite open to plus-ones.

Manager Ruben Amorim even ended up paying for 30 of his backroom staff and their families to attend the final after they missed out on complimentary tickets.

The two Premier League sides booked their spots in the final following impressive wins against Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt respectively, and will look to salvage their seasons at San Mames after hugely disappointing league showings.

Tottenham face Manchester United in the Europa League final next Wednesday

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall have picked up injuries

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Ange Postecoglou has vowed to take no risks in Tottenham's last match before the Europa League final and angrily rejected accusations he is threatening the Premier League's integrity.

'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,' said the Spurs boss ahead of Friday night's game at Aston Villa, who are among those competing for the top five and a place in next season's Champions League.

'We have certainly put out teams this year that because of our injury situation were not the strongest, but we still needed to play those games and it's the same with other clubs.

'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 gets questioned.'

Postecoglou recalled his clashes with Tottenham fans a year ago, when they celebrated losing to Manchester City because it stopped Arsenal winning the title.

'Apparently I was in the wrong for trying to win a game of football,' he said. '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 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've 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.'

Spurs, who face Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday in Bilbao, have suffered from injuries all season and the latest victim is Dejan Kulusevski, set for months out after damaging a kneecap in an innocuous collision with Marc Guehi against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Kulusevski has undergone surgery and his absence leaves Postecoglou short of midfield creativity with James Maddison out for three months with a knee injury and Lucas Bergvall not yet back from an ankle injury.

'We can't lose another player to an injury,' the Spurs boss added. 'It's just too finely balanced for us considering what's at stake. Villa are obviously going for Champions League football and you see how important it is to them and we're doing the same.'

Dejan Kulusevski has undergone knee surgery and will not play in the Europa League final.

It is the latest blow to Tottenham who are already without creative midfielders James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall for the showdown with Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday.

Maddison and Bergvall will not play again this season and although Spurs have not specified a timeframe for Kulusevski’s absence his season is also most likely to be over.

The 25-year-old Sweden international was Tottenham’s best player by some distance during the first half of the season until February when a foot injury ruled him out for six weeks.

He has not recaptured the same form since and was selected to start against Palace, when most of the first team were rested, in the hope it might help him find his rhythm again.

Kulusevski lasted only 19 minutes before he had to be replaced and, although boss Ange Postecoglou said he was hopeful it was nothing more than a knock, it has turned out to be more serious.

Maddison damaged knee ligament in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt and is expected to be out for three months. Bergvall injured an ankle in training on the eve of the same game.

This leaves Postecoglou short of specialist midfielders. Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are his senior options. Archie Gray, 19, will also come into the equation.

Manchester United and Tottenham supporters have been warned to expect eye-watering prices for alcoholic beverages in Bilbao for the Europa League final.

The message comes after hotel accommodation in the city that will host the finale next week shot up by 900 per cent after the Red Devils and Spurs confirmed their spot in the showpiece.

Bilbao is expecting some 80,000 supporters to descend on the Basque city for the event with the city's residents braced for an invasion the likes of which they have 'never faced' before, according to reports in Spain.

Rather predictably, local vendors will be keen to exploit the explosion in their prospective customer base and raise prices to maximise their profits. However, Basque Consumers and Users Organization delegate Kepa Loizaga has criticised the practice that has seen prices balloon '7, 8, and even 9 times'.

Loizaga urged bars and restaurants to 'not sell pints of beer for 10 euros' as was the case during the European rugby cup finals in 2018.

Additionally, he hit out at the 'disproportionate and exorbitant' pricing policy carried out by many of Bilbao hoteliers and also issued a warning to the city about the image it is projecting to the world.

'We already know that almost all businesses operate according to supply and demand, both flights and accommodations,' he told Bilbao outlet El Correo. 'There are no limits on increases or decreases. Everyone sells their product as they wish.'

He added: 'What we are conveying to the rest of the world is very negative.'

The two Premier League sides booked their spot in the final following impressive wins against Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt respectively, and will look to salvage their seasons at San Mames after less than impressive league showings.

Ange Postecoglou's side currently sit 17th in the Premier League standings, with Ruben Amorim's players just one spot above them in 16th place.

However, the road to securing both a ticket and a bed to sleep in on the night of May 21 continues to be exceptionally challenging, with fans set to pay thousands for travel and accommodation.

Despite the obstacles, scores of British fans will make the journey, with El Correo suggesting that Man United and Spurs fans are set to 'colonise' the Basque city.

As per the Spanish outlet, at least half of the fans making the journey to Bilbao will likely arrive without a ticket, with Joseba Goirigolzarri, the president of three-to-five-star hotel union Destino Bilbao suggesting that British fans will 'negotiate with sponsors, federations, and specialized travel agencies and explore every possible avenue to gain entry to San Mames'.

Other voices interviewed in the report, such as Hector Sanchez who manages the Bizkaia Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHB) has stressed that 'the volume of people this match will attract is unique.

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'We've never faced anything like this in the city.'

However, the influx is likely to be welcomed by the city's hoteliers, vendors, and restauranteurs, with one hospitality business owner delighted by the two teams that have made it to the final.

'They have high purchasing power, and are bigger spenders and drinkers than others,' said Felix Parte.

Whether that remains the case after expenses have been paid for the journey to and from the coastal city remains to be seen, with Mail Sport reporting on Friday morning after confirmation of the final that the cheapest flight to get from London to Bilbao on May 21 would run Spurs fans a whopping £355 for a one-way ticket.

Gary Neville took a sledgehammer to Manchester United's Europa League final hopes by admitting Tottenham are the pound-for-pound favourites.

The Old Trafford legend believes only one United star would be a definite starter in Ange Postecoglou's side.

And Neville revealed that he is 'really worried' about the long-term consequences of losing next week's final - so much so that he has a 'sickly feeling'.

United and Spurs meet in Bilbao to compete for silverware and a place in the Champions League, a chance to salvage their seasons.

They are, by their league placements, the worst ever Europa League finalists. But seldom has a final in Europe's second competition felt grander in terms of the heritage of its competitors.

'I've genuinely got a sickly feeling about this game next Wednesday,' Neville told The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.

'The biggest reason is when I look at every single player in the Tottenham team, when you look at (Dejan) Kulusevski, Son (Heung-min), Brennan Johnson, (Dominic) Solanke, if (James) Maddison was there, (Yves) Bissouma and (Pape Matar) Sarr, (Cristian) Romero and (Micky) Van de Ven, (Pedro) Porro and (Destiny) Udogie, when you look at those players, like-for-like with United's, only Bruno (Fernandes) would get into the first 11 of Spurs.

'I would select every single Tottenham player. The goalkeeper is a 50-50 split because I don't like (Guglielmo) Vicario and I'm not a fan of (Andre) Onana.

'Honestly, Udogie, Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Bissouma, Sarr, Johnson, Maddison, Solanke, Kulusevski, Son, I would choose every single player of Tottenham's over Manchester United's next Wednesday. That's my worry.

'The one thing that keeps me alive - the likes of a Casemiro, a Bruno, they've got something in them that will step up for a one-off game that means I think that we'll win.

'But if the players play as they should do, pound-for-pound, Tottenham should win that game.'

He added: 'When I look now at what's going on, it's really worrying. If they don't win the Europa League, that means they won't have the players they want next season which means they might not get the Champions League again, which means they literally kick it on for another two or three years.'

One thing that will soothe Neville somewhat is the fact that Maddison will not be available.

The Spurs creator admitted he is 'gutted' to miss out on the clash after sustaining a knee injury in the first leg of their semi-final against Bodo/Glimt.

Ruben Amorim admitted he was 'worried' about keeping all of his stars fit.

Captain Fernandes, scorer of 19 goals this season and provider of a further 19, is particularly important to their chances.

'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,' said Amorim.

‘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.’

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur fans attending the Europa League final in Bilbao are facing further travel chaos as one of the city's main stations will be closed on the day of the match.

Supporters of both sides have already had to fork out for expensive flights and hotels to get to the Spanish city for the clash at San Mames on May 21.

Authorities are expecting more than 80,000 fans in Bilbao for the final - thousands of whom will be without tickets.

Each club has been allocated nearly 15,000 seats but many more are set to travel to soak up the atmosphere and be part of a momentous occasion for both teams.

Those in the city will have to find alternative routes to the stadium as San Mames metro station, which serves the stadium, will be closed from 3pm on matchday.

It comes amid fears of a 'crush' and overcrowding at the station, according to Bilbao daily newspaper El Correo.

The publication reported that it would be the first time the station will be fully shut on the day of a major event, with fans not allowed to enter or exit.

More frequent trains will run on the metro until 3am, while the stadium is within walking distance from the city centre.

But the closure adds to the issues supporters will encounter when they are in the city.

Local authorities will aim to keep United and Spurs fans apart on the day of the match. Their respective fan zones are on opposite sides of the relatively small city to prevent mixing before the game.

Residents are braced for an invasion the likes of which they have 'never faced' before, according to reports in Spain, with El Correo suggesting that Man United and Spurs fans are set to 'colonise' the Basque city.

Fans are set to spend thousands on flights and accommodation, with airlines and hoteliers hiking up the price to capitalise on demand.

Direct return flights to Bilbao are available but are costing up to £1,700, according to Skyscanner.

Fans may have spotted a more cost-effective method of travel and booked an £108 one-way coach - but the 26-hour journey time and fixed London departure may not appeal to the majority of travelling fans.

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Other supporters may be making the journey by car, but could still face just under £200-worth of costs, with journeying through the pricey Channel Tunnel the only fastest route available.

When in Bilbao, the city is likely to be overflowing, with El Correo citing the hotel industry's ability to sleep just 15,000 people in their 5,000 hotel rooms.

Prices for rooms of any kind have soared ahead of next Wednesday's showpiece, with almost every hotel in the city reportedly sold out, and those available priced some way above their regular value.

The winner of the final will also qualify for next season's Champions League.