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Fittingly scrappy goal wins dour Europa League final for Spurs

Tottenham's Brennan Johnson celebrates with Richarlison after their side's winning goal in the Europa League final against Manchester United. Pic: AP Photo/Jose Breton

HE arrived in Bilbao offended at being described as a “clown,” but as Ange Postecoglou marked what may well prove to be his penultimate game as Tottenham manager by leading them to their first trophy in 17 years, the beleaguered Australian had the ultimate last laugh.

All indications still point to Postecoglou leaving the club this summer, even though he came good on his early season boast that he has always won a trophy in his second season at every club throughout his peripatetic managerial career.

This particular one in the Europa League comes with an added prize, a place in next season’s Champions League and the £100 million that can accompany that - not a bad return for a manager who seems destined for dismissal and was told defeat here would leave him branded a “clown,” in one brutal pre-match media takedown.

Brennan Johnson had claims for the opening goal after 42 minutes although, in keeping with a Final that could never be described as pleasing on the eye, it was scrappy.

Rodrigo Bentancur laid a smart pass back from the United area to Pape Sarr and his near-post delivery allowed Johnson to ghost ahead of Shaw, touching the ball onto Luke Shaw and into the net.

But as Spurs’ half of the San Mames Stadium celebrated a first European trophy in 41 years, the fall-out may prove long and hard for Postecoglou’s opposite number Ruben Amorim.

The Portuguese coach, appointed in November, has steered United to their worst league campaign since they were last relegated from the top flight, in 1973-74. His predecessor Erik ten Hag would be forgiven for pointing out that, poor as he may have been in that post, he won a cup final in each of the last two campaigns.

Amorim and, presumably, his owners had gambled everything on Europe - especially from a financial perspective - and defeat in Bilbao may deliver a hangover for the club that will rival the one tens of thousands United fans woke up with on Thursday morning.

What does this say for Amorim’s summer and his prospects going forward?

But, for everyone outside of Tottenham supporters, this was a Final that lived down to all expectations.

Amid a predictably cautious opening, it was halfway through the first period before either of the combatants conjured a shot on target; Bruno Fernandes’s low shot being smothered by Guglielmo Vicario.

It summed up an edgy evening, not helped by both keepers looking unconvincing in the early going, Johnson’s cross being palmed out by Andre Onana for Sarr to shoot from the edge of the area where Harry Maguire blocked.

And, following a Fernandes corner, Maguire’s touch to Amad Diallo ended with the youngster driving a low cross through the six-yard area where there were no United takers for what would have been a routine finish.

Diallo had been handed the start, along with Mason Mount, leaving Alejandro Garnacho on the bench, while Postecoglou had sprung an even bigger surprise by naming Richarlison in his starting XI ahead of the fit-again Son Heung-Min.

They were the pre-match headlines - at least in terms of team selection - although the background to the seventh-ever all-English European final held more intrigue and sub-plots than an average episode of Eastenders or Coronation Street.

Billed as the European Final involving the two worst ever finalists - a combined 39 defeats in their 74 Premier League games this season - it was hard to argue although that simply added weight and importance to the occasion.

Events on the field, however, did little to counter the unkind epithets that had been attached to the Final - “Donkey Derby” among the kinder ones - although Diallo, a rare spark on the night, ensured there was a second shot on target before the break with a tame hit straight at Vicario.

The nature of the opening goal a few minutes later, however, summed up proceedings and left United, and their catastrophic season, on the brink of complete disaster.

Having gone behind for the 31st time this season, United had Garnacho warming up within seconds of the restart as set-pieces remained a promising, if not the only, hope of an equaliser. A Fernandes free-kick was soon touched towards goal by Leny Yoro, forcing Vicario into a good save just before the hour.

Spurs were occasionally dangerous on the break but it looked only a matter of time before United equalised. They would have, on 68 minutes, had it not been for an incredible bicycle kick, goalline clearance from Micky van de Ven, from a Hojlund header after Vicario’s bad error.

Finally, Amorim brought on Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee and the tiring Spurs defence now had some major concerns; Fernandes heading wide and Garnacho forcing a save out of the keeper.

It was the start of a scrappy finale which ended with Maguire and Cristian Romero constantly scuffling, Jonny Evans being booked on the United bench and Vicario flying to keep out Shaw’s 97th minute header.

MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-2-1): Onana 5; Yoro 5, Maguire 7, Shaw 5; Mazraoui 6 (Dalot 85), Casemiro 5, Fernandes 7, Dorgu 5 (Mainoo 90); Diallo 7, Mount 5 (Garnacho 71, 7); Hojlund 4 (Zirkzee 71, 6). Substitutes (not used): Amass, Bayindir, Collyer, Eriksen, Evans, Heaven, Lindelof, Ugarte.

TOTTENHAM (4-3-3): Vicario 6; Porro 7, Romero 7, Van de Ven 9, Udogie 7 (Spence 90); Sarr 7 (Gray 90), Bissouma 6, Bentancur 7; Johnson 8 (Danso 79, 5), Solanke 5, Richarlison 6 (Son 66, 5) . Substitutes (not used): Ajayi, Austin, Davies, Moore, Odobert, Scarlett, Tel, Whiteman.

Referee: F Zwayer (Germany) 8