Noussair Mazraoui said Manchester United can be "proud" if they beat Tottenham in the Europa League final as he highlighted why the Red Devils have excelled in Europe but failed in the Premier League
10:42, 19 May 2025Updated 10:42, 19 May 2025
Noussair Mazraoui hopes Manchester United can get end the season on a high by beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final
Noussair Mazraoui hopes Manchester United can get end the season on a high by beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final(Image: Getty Images)
Noussair Mazraoui claims Manchester United can be proud of their season if they win the Europa League - despite their shocking form in the Premier League.
United have suffered their worst season of the Premier League era. The fallen giants have slumped to 16th in the table following a record 17 defeats. But United get the chance to salvage something from their otherwise miserable campaign by beating Tottenham in Wednesday's crunch Europa League final in Bilbao.
As well as lifting the trophy, the winners will book a place in next season's Champions League - which is worth up to £100m in revenue. And although their domestic form has been pitiful this season, Mazraoui reckons this will be largely forgotten if Amorim's team can sink Spurs.
He said: "Winning a trophy is never easy. I think in any case you don't downgrade that, because you have to fight hard to get into the position to win a trophy.
"You have to beat opponents who are strong, and who are also really hungry to be in that final.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 14: Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United speaks to the media in the mixed zone at Old Trafford on May 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United speaks to the media(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
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"When you look back at your career, you will look back at this season and you're going to be proud of winning the Europa League if we win on Wednesday, more than you're going to look at the failure in the Premier League. You can be sure, for sure, you can be proud."
In stark contrast to losing almost half of their Premier League games this season, United are the only team to remain unbeaten in both Europa League and Champions League. And even Mazraoui admits he cannot explain how it has happened.
The Moroccan international said: "That's something really tough to say, because we always manage in the Europa League to eventually win.
"I think the biggest example was Lyon, where we were almost dead in the last 10 minutes of the game. Extra-time, everybody's tired, and we still managed to win.
"I think one of the biggest differences in the Europa League and the Premier League for us this season is how to manage to win. We maybe have that kind of fighting spirit in the Europa League, that we maybe lack in the Premier League."
Mazraoui joined United when Erik ten Hag was boss, but revealed he appreciates the more straight talking and honest approach of Amorim.
He said: "I like him a lot in that respect. He's really honest, really straightforward, he's not hiding from anything. That's how I am as well. I'm not hiding behind anything, and that's the manager as well.
"He takes responsibility. He knows he's the head of the club eventually, because he's the manager. That's something I like a lot about him."
Djed Spence of Tottenham Hotspur avoids a tackle from Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United
Djed Spence of Tottenham Hotspur avoids a tackle from Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Tottenham have beaten United three times this season, but Mazraoui claimed that will have no bearing on the outcome of Wednesday's make-or-break showdown.
He added: "I don't think so, because this is a whole different competition. It's the Europa League, it's a final, so the context around it is so different that you can't really compare any previous games with this final.
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"Tottenham bring a lot of intensity in their games. We've seen that already this season. That's their biggest quality - they bring so much intensity and pressing in everything they do."