Tottenham end trophy drought in Europa League final as Ruben Amorim admits Man United sack is possible - reaction
Tottenham 1-0 Man United: A scrappy first-half goal was enough for Spurs to salvage a dire season with a first trophy since 2008
Tottenham Hotspur salvaged their season and delivered vindication for Ange Postecoglou as they defeated Manchester United 1-0 in a dismal Europa League final in Bilbao to claim a first trophy in 17 years.
United and Spurs showed exactly why they lie 16th and 17th in the Premier League table as they produced a low-quality affair and the only goal of the game reflected that perfectly. Just before the break, a combination of Brennan Johnson and Luke Shaw contrived to bundle the ball into the corner of the net.
Spurs required a spectacular goal-line clearance from defender Micky van de Ven as they defended doggedly in the second half, with the result delighting boss Postecoglou who said he always believed Tottenham would live up to his claim of “always winning a trophy in his second season”.
United, meanwhile, face a difficult rebuild with no Champions League football to finances their summer transfer plans. Ruben Amorim admitted afterwards that he would not ask for compensation if United decide to go in a different direction, but he vowed not to quit despite United’s worst season in 50 years.
Relive all the Europa League final action, including updates from our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, with our live blog below:
Will Postecoglou remain at Spurs?
That is another looming question after Tottenham’s victory last night.
Postecoglou himself says he hopes to stay on and continue building the team.
He told the media: "We've got a really young group of players. You can talk to them about success and what it means but until they feel it, it doesn't become real. I've got no doubt that all those boys tonight having this feeling they will want it again.
“To get it again they will need to make similar sacrifices. They have climbed the mountain now and know what it takes to get to where we are. I think that accelerates the opportunities to build a team and make it successful and make it competitive at the highest level for years to come.
"I think there is still a lot of work to be done, that's obvious, but not as much work as people may think. People may bang on about the 20 league defeats but they are missing the point of what we are trying to build here. I really feel that tonight can be a great platform for us to kick on."
Mikel Arteta gives terse answer to whether Arsenal or Tottenham have had a better season
The debate as to which half of north London has enjoyed a better season is raging but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wasn’t in the mood to engage with the topic as he gave a terse answer when asked for his thoughts.
The Gunners will finish second in the Premier League for the third straight season, while they also made the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years and reached the last four of the Carabao Cup for good measure.
Mikel Arteta gives terse answer to whether Arsenal or Spurs have had a better season
'We were not perfect, we have a lot to improve'
Ruben Amorim spoke about the game and believes his team were better than Tottenham yesterday.
He said: "I was always really honest with you guys. We did not perform well today but we were better than the opponent.
“In the second half we tried everything with the centre defenders players wide, crosses, going inside the box.
"I think today was not the day. We were not perfect, we have a lot to improve but I am always honest with you guys."
Postecoglou always wins trophies in his second season
Ange Postecoglou was praised by Glenn Hoddle for his statement that he always wins trophies in his second season at a club and then backing it up.
Postecoglou replied: “I think people misinterpreted [his quote about winning trophies in his second year].
“It wasn’t me boasting, I was just making a declaration and I believed. At the time I said it we were still in the Carabao Cup and I just had this thing inside me.
“I know our league form has been terrible, nowhere near good enough but us finishing third wasn’t going to change this football and the only thing that was going to change it was us winning something.
“When I said that, that was my intent. If I fell short I was happy to cop it but I believed it, that was my ambition. I couldn’t expect any at the club to say that but I could say that and I was prepared to wear it if it didn’t happen.
“I was comfortable with it.”
Uefa issues apology after Tottenham players left without Europa League medals
Uefa have apologised after Tottenham captain Son Heung Min and vice-captain Cristian Romero were briefly left without medals after beating Manchester United to win the Europa League.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin was visibly surprised to see that there were not enough medals during the trophy ceremony, leaving Son, Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur, who were the three players last in line, empty handy.
“To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count, as more team members – including injured players – participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated,” a statement from Uefa said.
“The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.”
Uefa issues apology after Tottenham players left without Europa League medals
Ange Postecoglou reacts to ending Tottenham's trophy drought
“I’m still taking it all in. I know what it means for this football club and unfortunately the longer it goes on [not winning trophies] it’s harder to break that cycle,” said the Tottenham boss after the game.
“I could sense the nervousness in everyone at the club because they’ve been in situation before and until you get there and take that monkey off your back you never understand what it feels like.
“We’ve got a really young group and I’m hoping that them tasting this success feeds into itself and they feel differently about themselves.”
'We got it done': Brennan Johnson reacts to Spurs' Europa League victory
“I’m so happy, this season hasn’t been good at all but I swear not one of us players care about that.
“This is what it’s all about, this club hasn’t won a trophy in 17 years. It means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered for not winning anything but we had to get the first one in a while.
“I’m so happy. Ever since I came here it’s been ‘Tottenham are a good team but can never get it done’.
“We got it done. I knew I touched it but I didn’t catch it clean [his goal], I can’t describe the feeling.
“I couldn’t watch [the final few minutes] I was listening to what the boys were saying and asking how long was left.
“The relief was something I can’t describe.”
Emotional Son Heung Min now a Tottenham ‘legend’ after Europa League win
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung Min admitted he can now be called a “legend” after he achieved his dream of lifting silverware at the club following Europa League success.
Brennan Johnson’s messy 42nd-minute finished proved enough to help Spurs down Premier League rivals Manchester United by a 1-0 score in San Mames.
It earned Tottenham a first trophy in 17 years and ended Son’s own wait for cup glory after painful defeats in the final of the Champions League and Carabao Cup during his 10 seasons in north London.
Emotional Son Heung Min now a Tottenham ‘legend’ after Europa League win
Alejandro Garnacho casts doubt on Man United future after not starting Europa League final
Alejandro Garnacho was non-committal over his Manchester United future after expressing annoyance at being named on the bench for the Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
The 20-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Red Devils this season, with Napoli and Chelsea expressing interest in signing the Argentina international during the winter transfer window.
That speculation will only intensity after Garnacho – like his brother Roberto on Instagram – expressed frustration at starting Wednesday’s 1-0 final loss to Spurs as a substitute.
Alejandro Garnacho casts doubt on future after not starting Europa League final
‘Serial winner’ Ange Postecoglou wants to build on Europa League triumph at Tottenham
Ange Postecoglou hailed his Tottenham Hotspur players after they “climbed the mountain” and reiterated his desire to stay after the club ended its 17-year trophy drought with a Europa League final victory over Manchester United.
It was far from a classic at San Mames, but Brennan Johnson’s scruffy 42nd-minute finish alongside Micky van de Ven’s miraculous flying goal-line clearance in the second half to deny Rasmus Hojlund proved the difference.
Success in Bilbao means Postecoglou has delivered on his Autumn promise of always winning silverware in his second season, but doubts remain over whether chairman Daniel Levy will allow the Australian to still be in charge next season following a torrid Premier League campaign.
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