The story of how Tottenham beat Manchester United in the Europa League final

Finals by their very nature are winner takes all affairs, but scarcely can the need for a trophy have been more keenly felt by the two teams competing for it.

Both Manchester United and Tottenham have endured rather than enjoyed themselves in the 2024/25 season, and the Europa League afforded one of them a last opportunity to put all of the heartache behind them.

Would Ange's 'second season' promise come true?

A famous old saying - To the victor the spoils, woe to the vanquished - could not have been more apt ahead of kick off.

Ange Postecoglou had famously said he always wins a trophy in his second season, and on his 100th game in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, there wouldn't have been a better time to fulfil that promise. 

Ange Postecoglou speaks to his Tottenham players during the Europa League finalČTK / AP / Manu Fernandez

Given that Tottenham had won 53% of their matches this season with Cristiano Romero and Micky van de Ven in the starting XI (9/17), compared to just 39% without the pair of them starting together (16/41), it's no wonder that there was a huge roar from the Spurs end of the San Mames Stadium when the team news was read out.

Standing in their way was a United squad who were the only side still unbeaten across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League this season (P14 W9 D5).

Tension clear to see in the opening 15 minutes

Six players aged under 23 started the match (Yoro, Dorgu, Hojlund, Udogie, Sarr & Diallo), and at 19 years and 189 days, Leny Yoro became the second youngest player to start for United in a major European final after Brian Kidd (on his 19th birthday) in the 1968 European Cup.

Though no clear chances presented themselves in the opening 15 minutes, Spurs had managed to get two shots away despite ceding the majority of possession to the Red Devils (63.9% to 36.1%).

Tottenham's Richarlison battles with Manchester United's Leny Yoro and Patrick Dorgu during the Europa League final.Josep LAGO / AFP / AFP / Profimedia

The North Londoners looked the more likely to make something happen as both sides continued to feel their way into the match, however, it was Amad Diallo's cross-shot that was the first half-chance of note.

With the tension palpable, it was a surprise to see such a free-flowing game then begin to develop. 

Tottenham on top in the first half without troubling Onana

Richarlison's three touches in the box before 20 minutes had been played evidenced an urgency from the Brazilian, and a 100% pass accuracy from five of his teammates - including three of Spurs' back four - gave the striker a platform to offer up his best work.

At the other end, Bruno Fernandes' effort was the first shot on target in the match and his 15th on target in the Europa League this season, more than any other midfielder.

Ten clearances from United with half an hour played would suggest that the Lilywhites were well on top at that point in the game, and though Spurs had remained on the front foot, Andre Onana hadn't made a save.

Tottenham's Brennan Johnson celebrates scoring the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester UnitedInsidefoto / ddp USA / Profimedia

That all changed just before half-time when the error-prone keeper couldn't keep the ball out after a scrappy exchange in the six-yard box which ended with the ball bouncing off Luke Shaw's arm and Brennan Johnson before nestling in the net.

With 70% possession in the 15 minutes leading into the break, and Bruno having had three shots at goal - the most out of every player on the pitch in the first-half - United will have every right to have felt aggrieved when Tottenham went ahead. Especially as Postecoglou's XI still hadn't managed a shot on target.

United pressed hard for the equaliser after half-time

Ruben Amorim clearly had his work cut out at half-time to galvanise his squad.

However, with more tackles made (13 to five) in the first-half, more duels won (64.9% to 35.1%), more possession, more passes and a brilliant 82.4% pass accuracy, there wasn't an awful lot - other than not scoring - that the Portuguese could admonish his players for.

The Red Devils certainly seized the initiative in the opening period of the second-half, with Amad again looking lively if not overly effective.

Europa League final match statsOpta by Stats Perform

Keeping the North Londoners on the back foot appeared to be a clear game plan and Tottenham certainly weren't able to get their game going immediately after the break. 

The issue that remained was that for all of their defensive and midfield prowess, United couldn't get anywhere close to the Spurs goal until Rasmus Hojlund's goalbound header was acrobatically cleared off the line by Micky van de Ven on 66 minutes.

Garnacho quickly made a difference

A change was evidently needed for the Red Devils so it was therefore something of a surprise that it took Ruben Amorim until the 71st minute to bring on Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho.

Within two minutes the latter beat his marker with ease and got a shot on target as United upped the pressure, and their dominance was self-evident thanks to their 421 passes attempted (compared to 169 for Spurs) with 10 minutes to play.

Alejandro Garnacho touches in the Tottenham box during the Europa League finalOpta by Stats Perform

Although Tottenham were defending resolutely, each United player deserved credit for putting in every last drop of effort to try and get back into the game. Luke Shaw and Andre Onana aside, each other player had at least one touch in the Spurs box.

If more perspective were needed, with five minutes left of the match, Tottenham hadn't attempted a shot since Brennan Johnson's opener in the 42nd minute. Only three in total was their lowest in a single match in the 24/2025 Europa League and they'd only had one touch in the United box in the second half.

Should United have signed Kane from Spurs when they had the chance?

Perhaps when United look at where the game was won and lost, they can pinpoint a loss of possession on 139 separate occasions as a potential issue to be addressed and, ultimately, not having a front man to put the ball in the back of the net.

When Harry Kane left Spurs, he was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, of course, but the club wouldn't push the boat out financially. How the Red Devils could've done with his remarkable ability to score goals on Wednesday night.

As a spectacle the truth is it wasn't the best final, but when the two teams competing in it are 16th and 17th in their league, that shouldn't really come as a surprise.

Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou won't care a jot about that after winning their first trophy of any description in 17 years and their first European trophy in four decades, though what happens next for Ruben Amorim is anyone's guess.

#Jason Pettigrove