The last time the UEFA Europa League finalists were in the bottom half of their domestic league table was…never.

English sides Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who are placed 16th and 17th in the Premier League standings, will add an unwanted record to their history books.

But it’s been some time since Europe’s second tier competition took precedence over the league for them this season.

While United fans are yet to turn on new manager Ruben Amorim, the Spurs faithful will be placing all their bets on Ange Postecoglou’s ‘second season’ record, having clinched titles during his second year at former clubs like Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos, and Celtic.

Suffering, a necessity

To endure is to be Amorim’s United.

The Portuguese coach arrived at Old Trafford in November 2024 and was instantly thrown into the deep end. The absence of a pre-season meant that the former Sporting Lisbon coach, who sticks by his philosophy, immediately began playing with a back three in defence. With the squad lacking the right player profiles for the system, the results haven’t been favourable for United.

Amorim has led United to just six wins in the Premier League in 24 matches, losing 12 times and drawing six. These figures have ensured the Manchester side’s worst-ever points tally and a maiden bottom-half finish since the Premier League’s inception. The team has managed to be in the top 10 only thrice with two of them coming before Amorim’s tenure.

Amorim’s Red Devils, though, seem to be primed for the European stage. The side is yet to lose a match in the Europa League under the 40-year-old (won eight, drew two).

“I’m stressed already because of the final. If we don’t do it, it means nothing,” cautioned Amorim after beating Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate score in the semifinals.

The United manager has continuously reiterated to the media and fans that the team will have to suffer, and it could take a while before Old Trafford and its occupants see progress. It didn’t help when the tactician rested first-teamers and gave academy players a go in the league when the season was beyond redemption, with the focus on securing a Champions League place next season via the Europa League.

“The money is not the most important, even the title, to win a title as a coach. It’s not just playing in the Champions League next year. It’s that feeling that we can change things,” Amorim said.

While the coach may not think so, the financial windfall from winning the final on May 21 is immense for the club.

Already swimming in a sea of debt and dangerously close to breaching the limitations set by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), the Jim Ratcliffe-led INEOS group has already laid off several staff to reduce costs.

Reports of Amorim shelling money from his own pocket to buy tickets for the final for the staff’s families are another grim indictment of the club’s financial status.

According to ESPNfailure to lift the Europa League will prevent United from pocketing at least 100 million pounds next season.

Having a successful Europa League campaign will not only help United get around 60 million pounds (including earnings from home fixtures), as per the ESPN report, but also help Amorim unlock the finances to build a squad to his liking.

The second-season wonder?

Spurs have two UEFA Cup titles (now Europa League) in their trophy cabinet but their last triumph was back in 2008 with the League Cup.

Australian coach Postecoglou can be the one to end the club’s title drought, but he has a more pressing issue to deal with: saving his job.

He joined Tottenham ahead of the 2023-24 season, leading it to a fifth-placed finish in the league. Now, it sits just above the drop zone but the 59-year-old will be hoping his unique success record doesn’t let him down.

Spurs will be aiming to add a third European trophy.
| Photo Credit:
AP

“I don’t usually win, I always win things in my second year,” he’d said earlier in the season.

While Spurs’ average position till now (12th) isn’t much better than United’s 13th, the London side has spent more weeks (13) in the top half of the table. However, Tottenham’s league season truly derailed from gameweek 14 onwards. This was around December 2024 when the club had 12 players sidelined due to injury, and these woes are yet to go away.

During one of Spurs’ worst seasons in the Premier League, defender Cristian Romero lashed out at the club management for not spending enough. Postecoglou, however, backed his bosses despite a lacklustre performance in the January transfer window to help strengthen the squad. Yet, Spurs too have played with intent in Europe (only two losses).

Rumours are swirling of Postecoglou’s sacking, but a win in the Europa League final could very well give the coach a new lease on life at the club.