Ange Postecoglou has ended Tottenham Hotspur’s long wait for silverware, guiding the club to its first trophy since 2008 with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday.
Brennan Johnson netted the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a deflected cross from Pape Matar Sarr that glanced off Luke Shaw before reaching him.
The defining moment came from Micky van de Ven, who produced a season-saving clearance by launching himself into the Bilbao night to clear Rasmus Hojlund’s header just before it crossed the line, a moment destined to be etched in Spurs’ history forever.
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United came close to a last-minute equaliser, but Luke Shaw’s header was denied by a diving save from Guglielmo Vicario.
This season hasn’t been good at all, but I swear not one of us players right now cares about that. This is what it’s all about, this club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years.
Honestly, this is what it means. It means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered, for not winning a trophy, for not winning anything. But we had to get the first one in a while today. I’m so happy, goalscorer Johnson told TNT Sports.
Tottenham’s victory not only ended a painful 17-year wait for a trophy but also served as vindication for under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou. In a season marked by domestic disappointment, their European triumph stood out as a stunning turnaround.
The win also secures Champions League football for next season—a remarkable feat for a team that, at one point, hovered just above the Premier League relegation zone after suffering 21 defeats.
For Postecoglou, the 59-year-old Greek-Australian, this triumph may prove to be the lifeline that solidifies his future at the club. Meanwhile, for Manchester United, the defeat adds to an already dismal campaign.
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Stuck near the bottom of the Premier League, United now face the harsh reality of missing out on European competition entirely. Their manager, Ruben Amorim, is left with the daunting task of rebuilding at Old Trafford without the lure of European nights.
The final was a captivating clash between two Premier League strugglers turned European contenders. But it was Tottenham who showed that Europe can offer an unexpected path to redemption.
United will be sick of the sight of Spurs, who extended their unbeaten streak against them to seven matches, achieving a clean sweep of four wins from four meetings this season, a first in the club’s history against Manchester United.
As the celebrations erupted under the warm Bilbao evening sky, Spurs fans, long accustomed to heartbreak, finally had their moment. After 41 years without European glory and countless close calls, a heavy burden was lifted.
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