Postecoglou ‘usually wins things’ in 2nd season 

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“Usually in my second season I win things,” said Ange Postecoglou at the start of the season. It was a quote that has been vilified and picked apart throughout the season, but the Australian had the last laugh in Bilbao. The 2025 Europa League final started as a cagey affair. Perhaps unsurprisingly so given both team’s Premier League form. But it was Tottenham who broke the deadlock when Pape Matar Sarr’s cross was flicked on by Brennan Johnson and inadvertently found the back of the net via a touch from Luke Shaw just before half-time. It was a low quality first-half. Manchester United offered nothing, Spurs didn’t offer much more. 

The Red Devils offered a little more in the second half – Rasmus Højlund had a header expertly cleared off the line by Micky van De Ven, whilst Alejandro Garnacho was denied by a clever save from Guglielmo Vicario. Bruno Fernandes struggled to make an impact. Casemiro’s looked laboured throughout. Ironically for a team who have conceded an abundance of goals under Postecoglou, Tottenham defended very well throughout the match. It certainly won’t go down as a European final for the ages, but Tottenham will not care one iota. 

Tottenham win first trophy since 2008

It’s been 17 years since Spurs last tasted glory when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the 2008 League Cup final. They last won a European trophy in 1984. The jokes about Tottenham not winning a trophy for so long are now over. And it was such an un-Postecoglou performance that brought it. Since the Aussie arrived it’s predominantly been one way of playing – all-out attack. But it was a measure performance in northern Spain. It’s been a poor domestic campaign and question marks still remain as to whether Postecoglou will be in the Tottenham dugout at the start of next season. But he will now be forever etched into Spurs folklore. 

For Man United it was a sorry performance, and it will raise major question marks about Ruben Amorim and the position he is taking the club. The club’s worst ever Premier League season, and no trophy to paper over the cracks. He will be given more time, but if United start next season poorly, there will no doubt be question marks over the Portuguese boss’s position. For Tottenham and Postecoglou, they have finally won a trophy and they will now play Champions League football next season. Not bad mate.