Brennan Johnsons scrappy first-half goal fired Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 Europa League final win over Manchester United. It was a game – and goal – that was befitting of a clash between the Premier Leagues 16th and 17th-placed teams, but it was Spurs who finally ended their silverware drought, winning their first title since 2008.
Ange Postecoglous claim earlier in the campaign that he always wins trophies in his second season has been vindicated. Whether it is enough for him to remain as Spurs manager remains to be seen but the club will be playing in the Champions League next season.
Europa League final player ratings: Andre Onanas nerves, Cristian Romero shines, where was Bruno?Ruben Amorim: If Man Utd dont want me, Ill go tomorrowAnge Postecoglou adapts his principles to keep his trophy promiseAnge Postecoglou: Finishing third wouldnt have changed Spurs – winning Europa League willThere was a touch of confusion around the goal.
Pape Sarr sent in a good cross, with Johnson and Luke Shaw charging for it. The ball pinged between the two before coming off Shaws arm, sending it goalwards. The Spurs forward got the lightest of final touches at the near post, sending the sea of white shirts inside the San Mames into raptures.
Man Utd dominated the second half as they searched for an equaliser – and they had three gilt-edged chances after the hour. Bruno Fernandes floated free-kick met Leny Yoros outstretched foot but a leaping Guglielmo Vicario kept him out.
The Spurs goalkeeper was then saved by Micky van de Ven as the defender acrobatically cleared Rasmus Hojlunds header off the line. Fernandes – who has bailed his team out on more than one occasion this season – fizzed a free header past the post.
In seven minutes of added time, Vicario made a match-winning save to keep out Shaws header. Casemiro then fired into the side netting as Man Utd ran out of ideas in Bilbao. It means they will have no European football next season and their summer transfers will likely be impacted as a result.
But the night belonged to Tottenham, who lifted their first European trophy since 1984 and beat Man Utd for a fourth time this year. As it happened | Teams | Match statsSky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next seasonNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺Ange: Finishing third wouldnt have changed Spurs – winning EL willTottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou: It wasnt me boasting [about winning trophies in his second season].
It was me making a declaration. I believed it. Finishing third wasnt going to change this football club, us winning something changes this football club. Im not afraid to declare that, if I fell short then I was happy to cop it.
That was my ambition. I could say that. I was prepared to wear it. People kept reminding me of it but that was only because there was an opportunity to win something. Its how the club perceives itself.
People are quick to take shots at the club who havent defended themselves as much as it should. I understand that as people have been here a long time and havent had anything to lean on. Im hoping this does.
Theres no reason why they cant go into next year believing they can win again and building a team that strives to win things. If you see yourself in that way, irrespective of what the noise is, thats what the great clubs do.
They expect success as theyve had it. Hopefully this takes the club forward. Ive had such a laser focus on winning this. Whatever happens, happens. Were still building this team. Its a young team, we need to add experience.
My thought process has been about building a team that can be successful for five or six years. But Im the manager – that decision is not in my hands. It doesnt affect me. You would have seen that in the build-up, all I care about is [the medal] – as this means this football club has won a trophy.
I dont feel like Ive completed the job. Were building. The moment I accepted the role I had one thing in my head, win something. Weve done that now and I want to build on it. Postecoglou continues second season trophy winsIn terms of clubs where he has had a second season or second full season in charge, Postecoglou won league titles with South Melbourne (1997/98) and Brisbane Roar (2010/11) in Australia, and the Japanese league with Yokohama F Marinos (2019).
He also won cup competitions at each club. At Celtic, Postecoglou won the Scottish Premiership title in both of his campaigns, doing so earlier than at other points in his career. He won the Scottish League Cup in each season too, and the 2022/23 Scottish Cup.
When managing Australia, Postecoglou won the Asian Cup in 2015, two years after he took over. He also had success as boss of Australias U17 and U20 teams. There are three clubs he failed to win any trophies with but he did not see out two seasons in charge of them – Panachaiki, Whittlesea Zebras and Melbourne Victory.
Amorim: If Man Utd dont want me, I will go Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim in his press conference: In this moment, I am not here to defend myself. Its not my style. I have nothing to show to the fans. In this moment [I need] a little bit of faith.
I am always open. If the board and the fans feel Im not the right guy, I will go in the next day. But I will not quit again. I am confident in my job. As you see, I will not change anything in the way I do things.
Tonight we need to deal with the pain of losing this match. I think it was clear we were the better team but we managed not to score. The guys tried everything to win the game. In the future we will have time to assess everything.
There are some days when I have said we were really poor. Today was not that day. We were not perfect, we need to improve, but I am always honest with you guys. Johnson on his goal: I cant describe the feelingTottenham goalscorer Brennan Johnson to TNT Sport: Im so happy right now.
This season hasnt been good but not one of us players cares right now. This is what its all about. It means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered for not winning a trophy, but to get the first one in a while today, Im so happy.
Ever since I came here, its been Tottenham are a good team but never get it done. We got it done. I knew I touched it [for the goal], and then I looked up and the ball was trickling into the goal. I cant describe the feeling.
[The final few minutes were] horrible. I couldnt watch. I was listening to what the boys were saying, asking how long was left. When we defended that corner at the end, I kind of knew. The relief is nothing I can describe.
Tottenham Hotspur finishing 17th in the Premier League isnt good enough, but weve had an unbelievable Europa run and the fans have been so good. I thought they had the edge on the United fans, to be honest.
It got us through the game. He [Postecoglou] has done his job. If theres ever a time for a mic drop its now, so Ill be looking forward to his interview. I cant thank the manager enough for how much trust hes had in us, especially in the Europa League.
He had a great way of getting everyone up for it and it shows. Shaw: Were at rock bottom now Manchester United defender Luke Shaw to Sky Sports News: A lot has to change, its clear to see. Thats why I say Ruben is 100 per cent the right person.
He knows what is to be done at this club, I believe he will do everything to make that change and put Manchester back at the top. I think the fans? I understand that right now they are going to be annoyed.
And rightly so. But all I can say is thank you so much for the support. Everywhere we go, including where we are in the table, the results weve had this year, theyve always still been there. I can only say firstly thank you so much for your support, and secondly were very sorry for what theyve had to go through this season.
Its been nowhere near good enough and I can only apologise for that. We have to look at the positives and the only positive is we can only go up from here. Were at rock bottom now, we have to find a way drive ourselves back and get back to where this club deserves to be.
Story of the match in stats… Whats coming up on the final day of the Premier League season?Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea and Liverpool vs Crystal Palace will be shown live on Sky Sports on Sunday. The drama on the final day is set to come in the race to qualify for next seasons Champions League, with just one point now separating fourth-in-the-table Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in seventh, with third, fourth and fifth spots still up for grabs.
Forest and Chelsea are both still in the mix and play each other on the final day, and the Sky Sports cameras will be at the City Ground as all the drama unfolds in what promises to be a rollercoaster conclusion to the top-flight campaign.
Meanwhile, there will be a party atmosphere at Anfield as Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace before Arne Slots champions finally get their hands on the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2020.
Premier League fixturesSky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season From next season, Sky Sports Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
