dailystar.co.uk

Man Utd and Tottenham sent'why does it matter'message over Europa League final

On Saturday, everyone who isn’t a Manchester City fan or a rival of Crystal Palace will be hoping the Eagles upset the odds and win the FA Cup.

Oliver Glasner's side can make history by winning Palace a major trophy for the first time in their history, having lost two previous FA Cup finals to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016.

If they do, observers will champion the fact a so-called smaller club has won a piece of silverware and broken the dominance of the big boys in the domestic cup.

They’ll not care where Palace are in the Premier League - 12th - or how they’ve played in that competition this season and rightly so. They’ll glorify the fact that Palace will be in Europe next season as well.

Yet on Wednesday, the winners of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham will be met with resentment that they have won a trophy and secured Champions League qualification.

Why? Because both have been pitiful in their domestic league this season. United went into this weekend's round of fixtures in 16th and Spurs in 17th.

Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim is feeling the pressure at Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)

Yet why does it matter? It’s a different competition.

Both Spurs and United entered the Europa League back in August and knew the prize in May was a trophy and a lucrative spot in Europe’s top competition.

Whoever wins it should be hailed for their achievement.

Onside

Michail Antonio and Eddie Howe meeting the NHS staff who helped care for them. Those staff are the real heroes.

Offside

Gianni Infantino. The FIFA boss turning up late for his own congress. A joker.

Read full news in source page