manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Manchester United will face Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has already issued a warning to Manchester United ahead of their Europa League final clash.

The two Premier League sides will face off in Bilbao on May 21, with a spot in next season’s Champions League up for grabs. In the 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, Mason Mount grabbed a brace to mark his first goals at Old Trafford since joining the club from Chelsea in 2023.

Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund were also on the scoresheet on the night to record 7-1 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Tottenham sealed a 2-0 victory (5-1 on aggregate) against Bodo/Glimt in Norway, courtesy of Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro.

Spurs have reached a European final for the first time since the 2018/19 season, when they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool as Jugen Klopp's side lifted the Champions League trophy. After a challenging season for both Ruben Amorim and Postecoglou, each manager now has the opportunity to secure his first trophy with their respective club.

However, Postecoglou has previously cautioned that he typically starts winning trophies in his second year at a club. After Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last September, he remarked: "I'll correct myself - I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year.

"Nothing's changed. I've said it now. I don't say things unless I believe them."

Speaking after the win over Bodo/Glimt in his press-conference, the Australian said: "It's a great opportunity. It's my fourth year in European football, plenty of people have been in European football for longer than I have, they haven't got to a final.

"So you understand it's something that you need to appreciate and I'll certainly do that. I haven't really thought a lot about it, because obviously the focus is on tonight. More importantly, just really pleased for the players and the staff, and particularly our supporters.

"There were a few hundred here tonight who I'm sure will remember this night. And thousands back home. We've given them some real hope and something to dream about, that we can do something special this year. I couldn't care less who's struggling and who's not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there. I think we've probably beaten teams who will be in the Champions League next year, on our road to getting there. So looking forward to it, should be a great game."

Postecoglou's comments that he usually wins silverware in his second season at a club come as a stark warning to Amorim and his players ahead of the final - and they will be hoping they can prevent the Australian from doing so in Bilbao on May 21.

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group.

You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate.

Tottenham Hotspur will be Manchester United's opponents in the Europa League final on May 21 with a place in next season's Champions League on offer to the winner

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has angrily responded to a question on whether winning the Europa League against Manchester United would save their season.

Postecoglou's Spurs will face Ruben Amorim's United in the final of Europe's second-tier competition on Wednesday, May 21 (8pm kick-off) in Bilbao. Victory in Spain will seal a lucrative place in next season's Champions League for the winner.

United saw off Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at Old Trafford in their second-leg fixture, 7-1 on aggregate, and will be seeking their second Europa League trophy win after emerging victorious in 2017 under Jose Mourinho. Tottenham, meanwhile, won 2-0 at Bodo/Glimt in their semi-final second-leg tie after a 3-1 victory in the first leg to put them on the cusp of a first major trophy win since the 2008 League Cup.

But when it was pointed out to Postecoglou that United have acknowledged winning the Europa League would not save a disappointing season overall, the former Celtic boss could not hide his anger. "Why do I care what Man Utd think?!" he said in his post-match press conference on Thursday.

"Why is that relevant to me? OK, so ask the Man United manager why he says that. I've said all along that this is important."

On the final, he said: "It's going to upset a lot of people isn't it! The debate's now raging, the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they're just going to take a team photo because we're not worthy.

"I mean, who cares if we're struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it's so easy to get to a final, then why doesn't everyone who finishes in the top three do it? It's a separate thing. It's got nothing to do with league form.

"We understand our league form hasn't been great. We understand the struggles we've had. A lot of them are because of the situation we've been in. But how does that diminish the achievement of getting to a final?

"Like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League, and haven't made finals. Why should that be diminished? I couldn't care less who's struggling and who's not.

"I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there. I think we've probably beaten teams who will be in the Champions League next year, on our road to getting there. So looking forward to it, should be a great game."

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.