Cartilage Free Captain

The good vibes continue after Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League winning victory over Manchester United last week. Today, UEFA released the Team of the Season for the competition, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, Tottenham are well represented with four players in the XI: Dominic Solanke, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, and Guglielmo Vicario.

The only (slightly) weird thing about this list is that Son Heung-Min didn’t make it. Maybe that’s due to the fact that he missed a bunch of matches with injury, and you’d have to leave Nico Williams out of that team to put in Son which probably feels like a non-starter. But in terms of importance to the team, there are few players ranked higher.

Solanke’s inclusion is also a little weird as he’s not in the Europa top ten for goals or G/90. He was, however, tied for second in assists with four, and second in G+A with 12, behind Rayan Cherki and Bruno Fernandes, who are both also on this Team of the Season.

As for the other three, they seem to be selected more on vibes than on any actual statistics that I can find. Pedro Porro shows up high on crosses and interception statistics, and Vicario led the Europa League in GA/90 but the weirdness with the injury crisis meant that Romero and Vicario missed a lot of time. Still, if you’re going to make a Team of the Season I guess you really want to have the champions well represented, and it’s fair to say that all three of them had a collective huge influence on Spurs winning the whole thing.

Ultimately, these Team of the Season things are a little bit silly as you’re trying to fit players into a formation instead of just picking the 11 best players or whatever, but it’s fun to have your team be recognized.

It’s impossible to deny how bizarre the 2024/25 season has been for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. In some ways, 17 has been the number of the season, with the club breaking its 17-year trophy drought (while setting a record for most home losses in a season that did not end in relegation); finishing 17th in the Premier League (despite scoring 64 goals); and Spurs’ #17 Cristian Romero being named Europa League player of the season (despite only appearing in seven of the club’s 15 fixtures).

Besides the number 17, there’s another thematic constant in those statistics: it’s been a season of contrasts.

It’s no wonder, then, why there are questions over Ange Postecoglou’s future as head coach. Some want him gone: league form dictates firing him is a no-brainer. Others want him to stay: winning the Europa League and bringing untold joy back to the club means he should be knighted and given every resource at the club’s disposal in order to succeed next season.

My stomach hurts.

Not to worry, though! We here at Carty Free Towers are here to cut through all the noise and tell you what to think. Or maybe we need you to tell us what to think... because despite regular accusations of “masthead groupthink” (okay guys, the meta stops now) it turns out we’re not even in agreement on this either. Here are our takes, and feel free to make your voice heard in the poll or comments below.

Ange In - Dustin George-Miller

There are several reasons why I’m still Ange-In. First, Ange has quietly addressed nearly every criticism that has been lobbed at him since his arrival, from the high line to accusations that he doesn’t adapt his tactics. He successfully focused this deeply flawed team and adapted his tactics masterfully in the Europa League, leading Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years and first European title in 41.

Second, while the league form has been wretched, there have been massive caveats. It’s now clear in retrospect that this current Spurs team was not equipped, either in depth or talent, to compete in four competitions. Add in the worst injury crisis I’ve seen in my time as a fan and it feels like we haven’t yet seen what Ange can actually do. His revelation that he abandoned the Premier League to laser focus on winning the Europa League this season now feels like a master stroke, even if it came with a very different style of football to what Ange actually wants to play.

And finally, Ange is just a breath of fresh air. Yes, he can be tetchy at times, a little grouchy towards the media and irrationally angry supporters. But he is a supremely gifted communicator and genuinely cares about his players and the football club. He’s maybe the only Spurs manager in my fandom who actually seems to get what it means to be a Tottenham Hotspur fan. After several years of managers like Mourinho and Conte, is it wrong to want to stick with a manager who is a supremely good guy?

Look, Ange still has a lot to prove with me. He needs backing and support, yes, but he also needs to prove that his preferred tactics will work in the Premier League. There are big questions. But after winning our first trophy in 17 years, he’s earned the right to give it one more go. If things don’t improve, I’ll join the group that will want to wish Ange well and move on. But I’m not there yet. Ange needs a summer of real support and a chance to show what he can do in the third season. After that, come what may.

Angenostic - Matty Flatt

I’m a coward. Conviction escapes me, and I find myself sitting painfully on a chain-link fence.

There’s a lot to love about what Ange Postecoglou has brought to this football club; and there’s a lot to dislike. It cannot be overstated just how good it feels to have broken the club’s trophy drought; I shed tears at fulltime last week, and Ange has had no small part of that success. At the same time, it’s hard to ignore the spiralling league form, the injuries, and the lack of succesful alternative ideas to Ange-ball.

What it comes down to for me is that it just feels like there is no good option here. I’m not convinced Ange Postecoglou has the tools to maximize the squad talent he will get (which is not a huge amount), and I can see Spurs floundering on all fronts as the club is forced to balance a Champions League campaign with challenges in the league. Conversely, the optics of immediately firing Spurs’ first trophy winning coach in 17 years are horrendous, and anybody who would come in to fill that void would immediately be placed under immense pressure, putting that person and the club in a no-win position.

The thing that really concerns me though is Spurs’ front office. The managerial market isn’t exactly packed with available quality options right now, indicating perhaps stability is the best approach, and I’m not convinced the powers-that-be have the nous to identify any diamonds in the rough. Scott Munn, the man who in large part was responsible for appointing Ange Postecoglou, is by all acounts on his way out of the club; Spurs now have a new CEO in the form of Vinai Venkatesham; Fabio Paratici is reportedly rejoining the club in some sort of capacity; and Johan Lange’s role in this new hierarchy is murky at best.

Do you remember Fabio Paratici’s last managerial search? I do. Paulo Fonseca seemed a leading candidate before being dismissed as “too attacking”, after which Paratici settled on Gennaro Gattuso as his preferred option - a hugely problematic hire for a number of reasons (including the fact that he is not very good and is now managing in the Croatian league) - before only fan pressure swayed the Italian’s hand, resulting in the appointment of the dour Nuno Espirito Santo, who barely made it half a season.

Do I think Ange is the man to take Spurs to the next level? No. Do I trust the Spurs decision makers to appoint somebody who will? Not really. So here I sit, between a rock and a hard place, just waiting for the club to make a call on my behalf.

Ange Out - Ben Daniels

Editor’s note: And a special welcome back to our very own Lennon’s Eyebrow and Wheeler Dealer Radio extraordinaire, who unlike me is not a coward and was more than happy to wear the vitriol from our lovely commentariat.

Before the Europa League final Ange had delivered the worst domestic season in our history with a record number of league losses so staggering that no team in the Premier League has ever survived them. He coached a team that largely played insipid football, lacked any tactical identity beyond “run fast,” couldn’t balance multiple competitions, and suffered an injury crisis severe enough it’s hard to imagine he’s not at least somewhat responsible for it. Firing him would have been the least controversial decision an owner has ever made. If a comparable club were looking to hire a manager this season, few would see Ange’s resume at Spurs as worthy of consideration. But then warra trophy.

Football has a short memory, and success is nothing if it’s not sustained. I remember what a significant milestone it was when Martin Jol brought us back to the UEFA Cup, and in less than a decade it became a tournament most fans felt was beneath us. I remember Juande Ramos winning the League Cup, a trophy many fans once turned their noses up at as a Mickey Mouse trophy, and in hindsight became the only one we could point to for 26 years. I remember Harry Redknapp sending us to the Champions League, and how quickly that went from our biggest accomplishment to an annual expectation. I remember Mauricio Pochettino reaching a Champions League final, and instead of it being the dawn of the greatest era in our history, it was its death knell. All of these men delivered success, left shortly thereafter, and the club has gone on to new heights that made their achievements seem smaller.

After six years of steady decline, and seventeen without silverware, Ange Postecoglou delivered a European trophy and qualified for the Champions League. The success of this victory is undeniable, but no matter how good we feel today the memory of this glorious moment will soon fade. The only question is whether Ange can take us the next step, because in football all that matters is what we do next.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2024/25 campaign has ended, but already we are turning our eyes to next season, with the club announcing another preseason fixture:

As per the announcement, Spurs will take on Newcastle in South Korea, with further details to be confirmed. This match is now the fourth preseason game in which Spurs will compete - all of which will be against Champions League opposition.

There’s no sleepwalking through preseason this year.

The match against Newcastle aside, a bizarre North London derby was announced back in March, and Spurs also have an August match lined up against Bundesliga champions (and Harry Kane retirement home) Bayern Munich. There’s then the small matter of the UEFA Super Cup, in which Spurs will take on the winner of the Champions League: one of Inter Milan or PSG.

This all paints the picture of an intense run-in to the 25/26 season - something I’m not sure is needed after the brutal intensity of the last several months. At the same time, this is a fantastic marketing opportunity for the club, with captain Son Heung-min returning to his home country now a club legend as well as a national one.

For now, let’s just bask in the success of a trophy-winning season, before dreaming longingly about the next Spurs youth product to erupt from nowhere in preseason.

Sunderland will be returning to the Premier League after an eight-year absence.

The Black Cats triumphed in the EFL Championship playoff final, defeating Sheffield United 2-1.

You can take a few things away from this match:

A questionable VAR decision on a Sheffield United goal that would have seen them go up 2-0 in the first half

Horrific coaching from Chris Wilder in the second half to take off Gustavo Hamer

A remarkable comeback from Sunderland who took their chances

Whichever of these is your takeaway, it’s a stunning result regardless. Sunderland looked lost in the final few months of the season and were winless in their last five games heading into the playoffs. They were even booed off the pitch by their own fans at one point.

But here they are, a very young club going back to the Premier League after eight years in the wilderness. That included a double-relegation, two seasons in League One and a couple close attempts at returning to the top tier.

They face a heck of a challenge next year. Sunderland were one of the youngest clubs in Championship, and they’ll certainly be one of the youngest in the Premier League. They also had five players on loan playing for them, meaning they’ll have to spend considerable time building out a squad for the league.

With Sunderland’s promotion, we now know the three teams that are going up. They will be joined by Leeds United and Burnley.

But the question is: Will this be the third consecutive season in which all three promoted teams go straight back down?

As for Sheffield United, they’ll likely be favourites for the automatics next season after becoming the team with the highest point total not to get promoted (92). Next year’s Championship crop looks pretty weak, so I think they’ve got a good chance.

Fitzie’s track of the day: I Found You, by Alabama Shakes

And now for your links:

Alasdair Gold: “What Ange Postecoglou is set to do on Monday as Daniel Levy decides his Tottenham future”

Dan KP: “Ange Postecoglou lays out transfer demands as pressure builds on Daniel Levy decision”

Jack P-B ($$): “Daniel Levy faces the biggest decision of his Tottenham chairmanship – what to do with Ange Postecoglou”

Ange Postecoglou has done something that hasn’t been done since Juande Ramos in 2008 — he has successfully won a trophy for Tottenham Hotspur. But like Ramos, who was fired a few months later, Postecoglou now finds himself without clarity about his own job status. After Sunday’s 4-1 home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, their 22nd of the season, Spurs finished the season in 17th place, safe from relegation but otherwise at the bottom of the table.

After the Europa League winning match against Manchester United, Postecoglou revealed that he made a decision in January to focus on winning a trophy this season at the expense of league position, as that’s what he believed was needed to unify the fanbase and kick-start the club’s development. Winning that trophy felt like the equivalent of Babe Ruth pointing with his bat towards where he was going to hit his next home run. But it doesn’t paper over the fact that Spurs have finished in their worst position in the table since the Premier League came into existence. 17th and a trophy feels like one of those wild hypotheticals that fans like to entertain themselves with in the offseason.

But even the cascade of good vibes over the past five days seemingly hasn’t been enough to secure his position as head coach of Spurs next season. We are still waiting for chairman Daniel Levy to either make a decision or reveal his decision to the public. And because Levy made any public comments about Ange’s future, we are stuck in a limbo, waiting to find out whether Spurs will reward Ange for breaking the trophy drought, or shake his hand and move on.

That radio silence seems to be frustrating to Postecoglou, as he seemingly is the only public face of the club. In the press conference following Spurs’ season-ending loss to Brighton, Ange was one again asked about his job status. This time, Postecoglou seemed to acknowledge the ambiguity of his current situation, and laid out what felt like his most robust defense of his job this season.

“I will be honest I have been finding it really weird talking about my future when we have done something unprecedented. I have had to answer the questions because no one else at the club is in the position to do so I guess. But I can’t answer that question about me and my future. Like I said, part of me is thinking ‘why am I even being asked that question?’ But it is what it is.

“I have got no doubt though that [winning the Europa League] could be a real defining moment for this club because wherever I have been I have made an impact where I have brought success to a club that hasn’t had it for a while. You just have to look at those clubs’ trajectory even after I left, they are still competing for things. I really think this is a moment in time where this club could push on and be a real contender for honors on a yearly basis.

“From my perspective, I made decisions that I felt were giving us the best chance of achieving the goal we needed to achieve this year and that has affected our league form. If people don’t want to take that into account, then there is nothing I can say to explain it any better than that.

“I came to the club and we had finished eighth. I didn’t take over a club that had finished second. They had no European football to speak of. Lost the one player who probably guarantees you European football. That was my starting point. At the end of two years, I’ve got the club a trophy it has been crying out for, Champions League football, we finished fifth last year. Either people are saying ‘last year it was a huge anomaly for us to finish fifth or this is what we deliver right.’

“I have got no doubt next year we will be in a much stronger position, challenging for the top places. I have got no doubt we will tackle the Champions League with the same determination that we tackled the Europa League. I have no doubts about that. If people are seeking any more evidence about me, then there is nothing I’m going to say that’s going to convince them if they haven’t seen it in the last two years.”

Ange is right about a couple of things here. First, the silence coming from Daniel Levy and the rest of the Spurs board is deafening. While the game is the game, it feels both unfair and churlish for Postecoglou to be expected to answer questions about his own job status, especially after winning the club a potentially transformative European title. It feels absolutely bonkers that he could be let go after giving the club what it has coveted for nearly two decades. But here we are.

In retrospect, this Tottenham team is also significantly more flawed than what it appeared last summer. This season, Spurs seemed to really feel the absence of Harry Kane, and the summer transfer window, which focused on youth and potential over experience, meant that Spurs’ depth was less experienced and ill-equipped from competing in multiple competitions. This was in no way a team built to compete for top five and to go deep in the cups, and Ange spells that out pretty clearly.

“I’ve already said that’s part of it, but also, as I said, we signed three teenagers at the start of the year. Like we signed two 18 year olds and a 19 year old. We went in that direction. If you think about who left last year, players with experience. So whenever you do that, there’s always going to be a little bit of a gap in the development. So that cascading into our injury situation at the start of the year, obviously had a massive effect on what we could do in the league..

“And again, it was our success in the Carabao Cup and our success in the Europa League that added to that as well. So you either assess it all in its totality or you just separate and say, well, you know what, it’s just not good enough, or it’s unbelievable. So you either fall into those categories.

“But at the start of next year, we will be in a much better position from the point of view of even the three young boys we signed, even though Lucas is not a young boy anymore, he’s going to be a massive contributor at the start of the year. You know, that wasn’t the case, Archie and Wilson’s hardly played this year.

“And if we do some good business in the transfer market, obviously brings some experience in, I’m not talking about age, I’m talking about players who have played at this level and can help the team, then I’ve got no doubt we can make the impact we want.”

Postecoglou doesn’t shy away from the league form — he readily admits that the Premier League position Spurs finds itself in is unprecedented and unacceptable. He’s said so repeatedly. His comments here suggest that he’s aware of his tenuous status, but that his past record at other clubs should inform what Tottenham can expect going forward, should they opt to retain him.

It’s the most full-throated defense of his own methods and ability I’ve seen from him this season. The only thing left is to wait and see if Daniel Levy accepts it.

It was possibly the most pointless match of the season for Tottenham Hotspur: their final challenge in a turbulent Premier League campaign, and nothing to play for except vibes following their successful Europa League campaign. The celebrations following the midweek victory would have taken their toll on the team, and they were up against a motivated Brighton & Hove Albion, who were an outside chance to qualify for European football themselves, provided other results went their way.

Ange Postecoglou named what was a surprisingly strong side, with three changes to the XI from the team that beat Manchester United: Mathys Tel, Archie Gray, and Kevin Danso came in for Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, and Cristian Romero. Romero had been ruled out by Postecoglou in his pre-match press conference, carrying a toe injury, and Bissouma had been a doubt in the lead-in.

The atmosphere was electric as the match kicked off: a sea of Lilywhite in the crowd as fans celebrated once more Spurs’ trophy win. The home team would have been buoyed by the support, and looked (perhaps surprisingly) cohesive and up for the fight, largely controlling the first half and making that control count with a 1-0 half-time lead: Mathys Tel was fouled in the Brighton box by Mats Wieffer, with the referee pointing to the spot and Dominic Solanke duly dispatching the penalty. Spurs were unlucky not to be further in front as well, with a raking counterattack spearheaded by Rodrigo Bentancur ending up with a Tel shot saved well by Bart Verbruggen.

Pape Matar Sarr was withdrawn at the half, with Wilson Odobert coming on in his place as Spurs saw a subtle change in shape; it was not a change that reaped benefits, however, as Brighton began to dominate the match. The Seagulls soon not only equalized, but went into the lead, thanks to a Jack Hinselwood double. Both goals came from corners, with Adam Webster winning the ball in the air for the first, knocking it down to Hinselwood who took a quick touch before firing it past Guglielmo Vicario at point-blank range. The second followed a similar script, Jan Paul van Hecke this time winning the aerial battle, before a deflection found the ball at the feet of Hinselwood again, the 20-year-old finishing smartly with a backheel.

Substitutions followed for Spurs, as Ange Postecoglou searched for a way to get back into the match: Bissouma, Richarlison, Ben Davies, and Djed Spence all entering the fray. It wasn’t to be, though, as Brighton extended their lead. Bissouma made a tired challenge in his own box after Spurs turned over possession high in the opposition half, with Matt O’Riley slamming the penalty past Vicario; before Diego Gomez scored his first in the Premier League with an absolute screamer. The Paraguayan received possession around 30 yards out before unleashing a strike that rocketed into the top-right corner, condemning Spurs to a 1-4 home loss to finish the season.

Reactions

It’s time for Tottenham Hotspur’s last match of the season.

What’s that, you say? It was on Wednesday?

Well, it may as well have been as the celebrations continued for days after Spurs became EUROPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! As such, a Dr. Tottenham of a different sort may be needed for this last Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion just to get an XI on the pitch, such must be the state of disrepair in which the players will find themselves. Can you imagine Brennan Johnson lining up to start after the events of the last few days? No? That’s goddamn right, I say.

This one could therefore end up being a bit of a cricket score. Do I care? No. Getting hammered, then getting hammered is worth a trophy.

COYS!

Lineups

Lineups will be posted closer to kick-off.

Live Blog

How to Watch

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Time: 11:00 a.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. UK

TV: Not televised in USA or UK. Check international listings at livesoccertv.com

Streaming: Peacock

Match thread rules

The match thread rules are the same as always. To any visitors coming here for the first time, welcome! We’re glad you’re here! Wipe your feet, mind the gap, and be sure to check out the other pages at this outstanding site. While you’re here, though, we have a few rules and regulations:

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Along those lines, outright abuse of players or match officials is also not allowed. It’s fine to say “wow, that was a really bad call,” but it’s NOT okay to direct copious amounts of abuse in the direction of said official over a call you did not like.

Treat other people in the match thread the way you would want someone else to treat your grandmother. Be nice. This is a community of fans, not an un-moderated message board.

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Finally, while we don’t have a rule against profanity, please try and keep the naughty words in check. Also, language that is sexist, racist, transphobic, or homophobic in nature will be swiftly deleted and you will be immediately banned. This is an open, supportive community.

Have fun, and COYS!

I know it doesn’t feel like it and it’s the most irrelevant thing ever compared to the fact that TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR JUST WON THE EUROPA LEAGUE ZOMG but yes, there’s the small detail of the final Premier League match of the season vs. Brighton. This will be the first and last opportunity this season for the Tottenham faithful to celebrate Spurs winning a trophy in their home stadium.

The one thing that we can say with certainty after watching the victory parade celebrations yesterday in north London is that yes, the players uh absolutely enjoyed themselves. And by “enjoyed themselves” I actually mean most of them got drunk. I mean shit-faced. Blotto. Better-grab-his-shirt-because-he-might-go-over-the-side pissed. It was extremely fun to watch, and if you don’t believe me just google “Brennan Johnson trophy lift parade.”

With so many hard partiers in the side, one last Premier League match feels like the least important thing in the world, but Ange Postecoglou said in his last pre-match press conference of the season that yes, Spurs will field a team tomorrow. But there will be a few people who will miss out.

“Thanks, yeah we’ll be able to field a team. As I’ve got older, I used to be a bit different but I really feel you need to celebrate your achievements properly. That was my message to the boys. It’s really important because it’s important for them, because they’re the ones who have done it and achieved it. It’s important for the people around them because then they can relax as well and then it’s important to make the experience as memorable as possible because when I ask them to climb the mountain again, there is a reason for it.

“Fair to say they took my words literally and certainly enjoyed themselves over the last couple of days. Like all parties there is one family member who embarrasses you and we want to keep control of. Fair to say we had a couple of those, but again, it doesn’t make them bad people and they are probably the first ones you reinvite to the next party. The boys are all good. We’ll be good tomorrow.

“...There will be a couple of absences, I should have mentioned that. Romero has been struggling with his toe for quite a while so we’ll leave him out and probably Sonny because his foot has still not healed. They’ve both sort of made a massive effort to get to the final. Bissouma got a knock in the game and he’s kind of 50/50 at the moment. The rest of them, physically anyway, are ok.”

Sure, Ange. I totally believe you that these are “injuries.” I saw Cuti Romero swigging directly from a fifth of fernet branca, I didn’t know Amaro could hurt your foot! Also relatedly I’d be shocked if we saw Brennan Johnson anywhere near the pitch, unless he’s hooked up to an IV drip and is allowed to wear sunglasses on the pitch.

During the parade celebrations, Ange dropped the mic with a comment alluding to how third seasons of TV shows are always better than the second. While that was an incredible line, in the press conference Ange admitted that he’s had no conversations yet about his job next season, and there’s still plenty of journalists in England who have reported that he was likely gone no matter what.

“I should have thought about it a bit more because as somebody rightly pointed out, sometimes they kill off the main character. I could be in strife there!

“I said even before the game, I really believe we’re just building something and a significant win accelerates that. I really believe that is the case and I am not going to put a limit on what we can achieve. I certainly believe it’s exciting the possibilities of next year knowing I’ve got a group of players now and staff and a club that knows how to win and wants more of it.

“No, look I haven’t had any discussions. Similar to before the game, I haven’t had any discussions with the club. Like I said before the game, maybe they were just waiting for clear air to give me some guidance. But I haven’t heard anything from the club.”

The fanbase is 100% high on good vibes at the moment, but even so it does feel like the tide of sentiment towards Ange has turned after Wednesday night in Bilbao. Postecoglou admitted that in January he decided to focus on winning the Europa League at the expense of league performance because he saw that as the most achievable path to success this season, with the injury crisis and number of fixtures. He also alluded that he did not have full support at the club for that plan. What does that mean? We don’t know! It feels slightly impossible that with club flying so high right now they’d consider firing him anyway, but we do not know the mind of Daniel Levy or if the club have had any conversations with any managers who might want to coach next season, if not Ange. We’ll find out before too long, though.

Ange said he viewed pursuing, and ultimately winning, a competition like the Europa League as having a galvanizing effect on his team. And now that the team finally has gotten the trophy monkey off its back, the club can now move on and succeed even more, because they now know how to win.

“It is significant. They are forever connected now irrespective of sort of what their futures hold. They’re always going to be connected, they will always have the night in Bilbao, they will always have always be the ones that broke the drought and hopefully there isn’t another drought like it. They’ll always be remembered for that.

“I think it does bring them closer, which again as I was saying before, that’s how you create a winning culture because I am sure they want to experience it again together as a group. They want to have another moment, they want another night like Bilbao, they want to lift another trophy, they want to have another parade, they probably want to go out again and all those kind of things. I think it does unite them to an even greater extent.”

Tottenham kick off against Brighton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the final match of the season tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. BST. The match is not televised in the UK or USA, but is streamed on Peacock if you’re an American.

It is a state of celebration for 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and not because the club enters the final day safe from relegation. No, this is Europa League champion Spurs, headed to next season’s Champions League with plenty to build upon despite a historically bad Premier League performance. Much of this season felt like a disaster, but the history books will remember this 2024/25 Tottenham side as title winners.

That makes Sunday’s finale in North London nothing short of a celebration. Brighton & Hove Albion might be playing for an outside chance at the Conference League, but the hosts are just here for a good time. From the joys of Bilbao to the parade on Friday, it is hard to imagine many Tottenham players care too much about Sunday — still wild to realize we are here.

Tottenham Hotspur (17th, 38pts) vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (8th, 58pts)

Date: Sunday, May 25

Time: 11:00 am ET, 4:00 pm UK

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

TV: Peacock (US)

Brighton should finish eighth, which is up from last season, but on par with the prior finishes of sixth and ninth. It does feel like it would be a bit of a disappointment to miss out on Europe though, given the sheer number of English teams headed into the various competitions next year (again: wooooooo) and the fairly open competition near the top of the table.

The reverse fixture was one of the most frustrating in a year of frustrations for Spurs. Brennan Johnson and James Maddison gave Tottenham a 2-0 lead at the Amex in October, but three goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half completely flipped the scoreline, with the home side taking the points. The wheels had not fully come off yet, but that collapse was a big omen of the rest of the season ahead.

Finale fun

While that defeat was representative of Spurs’ catastrophe in the league, none of that matters now. With nothing pointwise to play for, Sunday can be a carefree capper on a strange year, now full of joy and elated supporters. It could be the final time someone like Cristian Romero or Richalison puts on the kit — or Ange Postecoglou is on the touchline? — though most goodbyes this summer are unlikely to be huge emotional hitters.

Thanks for riding along with us through 20-plus losses this year across all competitions. It was painful, exhausting, and potentially worst of all, numbing, for much of the season, but it all was worth it in the end. Tottenham has a ton of work to figure out this summer, especially with Champions League on the schedule next year, but at least everything is moving in the right direction. Talk to you ahead of the Super Cup!

There are a lot of reasons why Tottenham Hotspur, despite a wretched Premier League campaign, roared back to win the Europa League this season. But one of the main reasons was Spurs’ first choice defensive back line, specifically the play of Micky van de Ven and Spurs vice captain Cuti Romero. It doesn’t take much digging to find statistics that clearly show Tottenham were a much better team when one or both of them were in the starting lineup.

And while Van de Ven made a spectacular leaping goal-line save to preserve Spurs’ 1-0 win in Bilbao on Wednesday night, Cuti Romero was, to use a Ray Hudson line, “magesterial.” We weren’t the only ones who noticed — UEFA did too. The day after Spurs lifted their first trophy in 17 years and first European trophy in 41 years, Romero was named Europa League Player of the Season.

I could dig up some stats that show you how good he’s been in the Europa League this season, but I won’t — we all know how good he is and what he brings to this Spurs team. He’s one of the best central defenders in world football and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him. This award is fully deserved.

We’ll probably have to endure a summer of annoying transfer news about how Cuti is linked away from the club, likely to any number of La Liga teams. But for now, let’s just enjoy him and his play. And maybe, in honor of Cuti necking straight from a bottle of fernet branca on the open-top bus this afternoon, pour yourself a tipple of amaro and give him the rowdiest of toasts. Salud, Cuti!