Tottenham v Man United predicted XI: Mathys Tel to miss out, 9 changes
Tottenham take on Manchester United for the Europa League in Bilbao, in what is a crucial game for both sides.
Spurs sit a lowly 17th in the Premier League table, with United just one place above them, with only one game remaining this season.
The North London side’s European form has provided some relief from their domestic struggles though, and they beat Bodo Glimt 5-1 on aggregate at the semi-final stage.
Despite this, Ange Postecoglou is under huge pressure at Tottenham, and there is a belief that the Australian will be sacked if he fails to win the final.
It has been 17 long years since Spurs last won major silverware, a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the League Cup final, but that barren run could end on Wednesday (21 May) evening.
Postecoglou to opt for Odobert over Tel
It was a much-changed Tottenham side who were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa in the Premier League, and Postecoglou will revert back to his strongest team for the clash with Man United.
Guglielmo Vicario will return in goal, with Micky van de Ven, Christian Romero, Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie pretty much guaranteed to start along the backline.
Pape Matar Sarr limped off in Spurs’ defeat to Villa, but is fit for the final, although it is expected that Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur will return in the centre of the park.
Heung Min Son was out for seven games with injury, but returned at Villa Park and looked fit enough to feature from the start in Bilbao.
Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke will both come back into the side, but the final spot in behind Solanke is cause for much debate.
Tottenham will be without James Maddison for the final, and Postecoglou may opt for Wilson Odobert over Mathys Tel, after the former Burnley man impressed in the first half against Aston Villa.
Spurs in good form against United
Despite their reputation as ‘bottle jobs’ and habit of spurning chances of winning silverware, Tottenham actually have history on their side going into the Europa League final.
Spurs are unbeaten in their last six matches against Man United, winning four and drawing two in a run which stretches back to 2022.
Ange Postecoglou has already got the better of the Red Devils three times this season, beating them twice in the league and also in the League Cup quarter-finals.
The North London side cruised to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford back in September, with Bruno Fernandes being dismissed in the first half for the hosts.
They then beat United 4-3 in a crazy cup game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, before completing the league double with a 1-0 victory in February.
A fourth win this season over the Red Devils would ensure Tottenham’s long trophyless run finally comes to an end.