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Ange Postecoglou’s side were second best at Villa Park and beaten by second-half finishes from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Camara.

It leaves Villa needing a win when they visit Old Trafford on the final day of the season to stand a chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

In the meantime, the Reds are hoping to secure our place in the league phase of the 2025/26 premier competition by seeing off Spurs in Bilbao.

It has been all about resting players in the build-up to the midweek contest at San Mames for Tottenham boss Postecoglou, who has now seen his side lose five of their last six league outings.

The Premier League approved the club’s request to bring forward the match against Villa from Sunday afternoon to Friday night - in line with United’s game at Chelsea - to allow Spurs more time to prepare for the final.

Postecoglou made three changes to his team from their 2-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace last Sunday, as captain Son Heung-min returned to the line-up after being sidelined for a month with a foot injury. Former United loanee Sergio Reguilon and teenage winger Mikey Moore also came in, as Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

As previously reported, influential midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is set for several months on the sidelines after having surgery on the knee injury which forced him off in the 19th minute against Palace.

However with one eye on the showdown with United in Spain, it’s worth noting that Postecoglou had previously made eight changes for the Palace game, from the team that beat Bodo/Glimt 2-0 in Norway to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory in the semi-finals.

Postecoglou said Pape Matar Sarr was substituted as a “precaution” against Villa, after the midfielder was replaced by Yves Bissouma in the 53rd minute and appeared to be in discomfort as he went down the tunnel alongside medical staff. Moore also needed treatment before he was taken off in the 87th minute.

Giving an update on the pair, Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference: “Pape felt something in his back so we took him off as a bit of a precaution. I don’t think it’s anything too significant speaking to him afterwards but he just felt something in his back and I think Mikey [Moore] was okay. It was fatigue as much as anything else. He hasn’t played that sort of minutes before.”

Star man Son played 74 minutes and Postecoglou is optimistic he could be able to start in the Basque Country.

“He’s ready and he’s available,” said the manager. “They’re all ready to start so I think him playing 70-75 minutes today was important and you could see he opened up a couple of times. It’s as much about Sonny himself and feeling that he’s getting back into a rhythm and I think there were moments tonight where he showed that.”

Richarlison, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke were all introduced late on as substitutes, but defensive trio Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie didn’t travel to the Midlands and won’t have played for two weeks when the final comes around.

When asked if that was a concern, the manager said they would be available against United and added: “For us, there’s no point bringing them here, they weren’t going to play. They stayed at home, they did a really strong [training] session and come Wednesday, knock on wood, they are all available and that’s the most important thing.”

With Guglielmo Vicario rested again, Antonin Kinsky - who is ineligible to play in the Europa League - was in goal for the second successive match and had a busy night against Unai Emery’s side.

It will be interesting to see who Postecoglou selects to line up against the Reds in the final. You can follow all the build-up to the season-defining showdown on ManUtd.com and in the United App.

MUTV will provide unrivalled build-up to the blockbuster occasion with four exclusive broadcasts from the city throughout matchday at 09:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 18:00 BST.

The game itself will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

If you do not subscribe to that service, live radio commentary will be available via MUTV on the club channel, the United App and ManUtd.com.

Here’s the big news you might not know about…

We will stream the entire Europa League final to MUTV subscribers at 00:00, 04:00, 06:30, 09:00 and 11:30 BST on Thursday morning.

The on-demand video of the game will be available to watch from 08:00 as part of MUTV’s Full 90 box set. You can watch this on your Connected TV, in our app or on the website.

Not only is a major trophy at stake but also entry into the 2025/26 Champions League.

We can reveal Ruben Amorim’s side are due to wear our red shirts, with black shorts and black socks. The last time we turned out in this combination was in the away tie at Real Sociedad in the same competition, when Joshua Zirkzee’s goal earned a 1-1 draw on the road.

Ruben’s charges were also decked out in the same set of colours for the 2-2 draw at Everton, but that is the only time that has been the case this term.

Spurs, who are the designated home team, look certain to be in their traditional white jerseys, with blue shorts, but have still to confirm this.

You can follow all the build-up to the season-defining showdown on ManUtd.com and in the United App.

The Reds make a quick return to San Mames in Bilbao - the home of our semi-final opponents Athletic Club - aiming to secure the sixth major European triumph in our club’s storied history.

It’s been a disappointing campaign on the domestic front for both teams, but it could end in glory on the continental stage with victory in the Basque Country, in what is the sixth all-English European showpiece.

For the Reds, we will be striving to win some silverware for the third consecutive season, after our Carabao Cup success in 2023 and Emirates FA Cup triumph in 2024.

Here is all you need to know ahead of the titanic tussle…

HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW

The final is being broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+ in the UK, with kick-off at 20:00 BST. If you reside elsewhere, please check local listings to see if the match is being shown wherever you are.

We will have extensive coverage building up towards the big game, including the travelling squad, so stay tuned across ManUtd.com and in the United App.

On matchday, MUTV will provide unrivalled build-up to the blockbuster occasion with four exclusive broadcasts from the city at 09:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 18:00 BST. Matchday Live will then follow at 18:30 BST, where you can get reaction to the team news as it breaks at 18:45 BST.

Whether you're watching, listening or on the move, the United App is the place to be during the game itself, with radio commentary, updates from inside the ground, expert analysis and trending live stats.

Short match highlights will also be available from midnight, with extended highlights and the full match replay to follow for MUTV subscribers. You can subscribe now here if you’re not already signed up.

WHAT’S THE TEAM NEWS?

Ahead of his first final as our head coach, Ruben Amorim had positive news on the injury front in the aftermath of Friday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea in the Premier League. He feels all the players emerged unscathed from the battle at Stamford Bridge - despite some anxious moments when the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Amad and Harry Maguire went down at various stages.

Ruben had chosen a strong team which showed five changes from the 2-0 home loss against West Ham - bringing in Andre Onana, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu and Casemiro. We were also boosted by the return of Ayden Heaven, who was brought on as a late substitute, and Toby Collyer, who made the bench, following their respective lay-offs.

Doubts remain over Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro after the defender’s recent injuries, while Diogo Dalot is facing a race against time to prove his fitness before the trip to the Basque Country. Jonny Evans has been back training but wasn’t in the squad to face Chelsea. Fellow centre-back Lisandro Martinez is still absent with a cruciate ligament injury.

Young forward Chido Obi is not eligible to play in the competition.

Meanwhile, Spurs will definitely be without three midfielders in Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (knee) and Lucas Bergvall (ankle).

Radu Dragusin continues his recovery from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in January, but the Romanian defender is no longer eligible to play in the competition - along with Fraser Forster, Antonin Kinsky, Sergio Reguilon and Timo Werner, after they weren’t named in the club’s squad for the knockout stages.

It remains to be seen if Pape Matar Sarr will be involved after the Senegalese midfielder limped off during Friday’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa, with boss Ange Postecoglou saying afterwards his withdrawal was a ‘precaution’.

The left side of the attack could be Postecoglou’s main selection dilemma. Captain Son has only just returned from a foot injury as he vies for a starting berth with Richarlison - who started both legs of the semi final - and on-loan Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel.

WHAT AMORIM HAS SAID

In his Europa League final press conference, Ruben expressed his belief that the Reds will face a different challenge against Spurs, compared to other matches during our route to the showpiece.

“We'll play a different game,” he told journalists. “It's not the same to play against Real Sociedad, or even Lyon or Athletic Bilbao. It's going to be different. But we are prepared for that.

“The final is completely different, the context is different, the cup is there. We can see the cup. Even the last years with [Erik] ten Hag, with some problems, when they reach the final they were there. You guys know that. This team proved already that in the final they can step up and we know that."

FORM GUIDE

United and Spurs have had disappointing Premier League campaigns by their high standards and are languishing in the bottom half of the table.

Ahead of the final, both clubs have had roughly the same preparation time, after playing in the Premier League on Friday night.

The Reds were narrowly beaten after Marc Cucurella’s header clinched a 1-0 win for Chelsea in our final away league game of the campaign.

Despite going eight games without a victory in the league, we are the only club unbeaten in the three European competitions this season, and have also scored 12 goals in our previous three Europa League games.

Spurs have won just one of their last 11 league outings and lost five of the last six following their 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa. However, they have fared better on the European stage and are unbeaten in their last five Europa League matches, winning four of those fixtures on their way to reaching the final.

PAST MEETINGS

The sides have played each other 204 times since their first meeting in 1899. The Reds have enjoyed much the better of the fixture over the years with 96 wins to Spurs’ 57, while there have been 51 draws.

However, there is cause for recent optimism for Spurs, who are unbeaten in six games against United and have won all three previous clashes this season.

The Lilywhites ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford in September when our captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card which was later overturned. They also came out on top 4-3 in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where James Maddison netted the only goal in February’s league meeting against the injury-hit Reds.

HOW BOTH CLUBS REACHED THE FINAL

The Reds finished third in the inaugural Europa League league phase - one point behind winners Lazio and second-placed Athletic Club. After draws with FC Twente, FC Porto and Fenerbahce, United beat PAOK 2-0 and overcame Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in Amorim’s first home match in charge, before seeing off Rangers 2-1 and FCSB 2-0.

We got the better of Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16 before edging past Lyon 7-6 over two legs in the quarter final, including the epic 5-4 victory after extra time at Old Trafford. United then executed a stunning 7-1 demolition of Athletic Club in the semi-finals to reach our third Europa League final in eight years.

Spurs, meanwhile, won five of their eight group-phase games - against Qarabag, Ferencvaros, AZ Alkmaar, Hoffenheim and Elfsborg - to progress to the Round of 16, where they overcame Dutch side AZ Alkmaar again 3-2 on aggregate.

The Lilywhites edged past German side Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 over two legs in the quarter finals before advancing past Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate in the semi finals.

EUROPEAN HISTORY

The Reds have won every European honour available in our long and successful history, since becoming the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968.

Our 2-0 victory over an Ajax side featuring current Reds Andre Onana and Matthijs de Ligt in Stockholm in 2017 completed our set and we will be hoping to replicate that triumph from 2017 in Bilbao.

The Reds will also be hoping to erase memories of our last Europa League final appearance in 2021, when we were agonisingly beaten 11-10 on penalties by Villarreal after a 1-1 draw. Five players who were part of our squad that night could feature on Wednesday - Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof all started, while Harry Maguire and Amad were on the bench.

Spurs, meanwhile, have reached their sixth European final - they have won three of the previous five, all of which came in the UEFA Cup.

The north London outfit are looking to secure a first trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008 and a first continental honour since 1984. Tottenham were last in a European final when they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League showpiece in 2019 - which was the same year there was also a last all-English Europa League final, when Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1.

DID YOU KNOW?

United and Spurs have never met before in UEFA competition and have only met in one previous final - when the Reds were 4-1 winners on penalties to lift the League Cup following a goalless draw at Wembley. Jonny Evans played for United that day at the age of 21.

They will be looking to lift the Europa League trophy, which is the heaviest of all UEFA silverware at 15kg.

The north Londoners released a club statement confirming that midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has undergone knee surgery, after being withdrawn during the first half of Sunday's 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

"We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella [kneecap] in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend," the statement says.

"Following further specialist consultation, the midfielder has undergone surgery today [Wednesday] and will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately."

Kulusevski has been an important figure for Spurs this season, scoring 10 goals and supplying 11 assists during his 50 appearances across all competitions.

The Sweden international played the full 90 minutes in each of the three previous meetings between the sides this term - all won by Spurs.

He netted in the first two of those encounters, a 3-0 victory for the capital club at Old Trafford and our 4-3 Carabao Cup elimination in N17 prior to Christmas.

Kulusevski's situation adds to Ange Postecoglou's issues in midfield, with James Maddison's season cut short when he also suffered a knee problem during the Europa League semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt.

Lucas Bergvall will also 'probably' be missing for the remainder of 2024/25, after tweaking his ankle ligaments in the same game.

Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr are options in the engine room for our final foes, who visit Aston Villa in their penultimate Premier League outing on Friday night.

Son Heung-min returned from injury in the Palace clash last time out.

Ruben Amorim's side will meet Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English showpiece occasion with the prize at stake not only the trophy itself but also a place in next season's Champions League.

The big game, which comes before our final Premier League fixture of 2024/25 at home to Aston Villa, will kick off at 19:00 BST (20:00 local time) at San Mames, scene of our semi-final first leg win over Athletic Club.

The Reds came on strong in the return at Old Trafford, despite trailing at half-time to Mikel Jauregizar's strike. Substitute Mason Mount equalised with a curling effort, before Casemiro nudged *us ahead on the night, from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick.

Rasmus Hojlund tapped in an Amad centre before Mount's injury-time long-ranger earned a hugely impressive 7-1 aggregate victory, 4-1 on the evening.

Spurs sealed their spot in the final by completing a 5-1 aggregate win over Bodo/Glimt in Norway.

Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro scored in the second half for Ange Postecoglou's men, who are currently one point and a place behind us in the Premier League table, as the north Londoners triumphed 2-0 in the second leg.