Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were the two English representatives in this season’s Europa League and, despite both occupying the spots above the Premier League relegation zone in 16th and 17th respectively, have successfully navigated their European challenges to meet in Wednesday’s final.
Advertisement
There is much at stake: a trophy, a season’s redemption and a place in next year’s Champions League.
After navigating the league phase, Spurs then beat AZ, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bodo/Glimt on the way to the final, while United saw off Real Sociedad, Lyon (in incredible style), and Athletic Club, the San Mames home of whom the final will be held.
Arguably helping United and Spurs this season is the fact that Champions League teams no longer drop into the Europa League after changes to the format. Sevilla (2022-23) and Atletico Madrid (2017-18) both won the Europa League after starting their European campaigns in the Champions League.
In this season’s revamped format, teams from the same nation could meet from the knockout phase play-offs onwards, but United finished third and Spurs fourth in the competition’s league phase, meaning both avoided that round and were drawn on different sides of the bracket for the knockout stages, which leads us to the sixth all-English European final.
Perhaps ominously for Spurs, in the five other all-English finals, the teams with the higher league position at that time went on to win three of them. Here we look at how the other five finals played out.
Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea — 2021 UEFA Champions League
Thomas Tuchel celebrates winning the Champions League with Chelsea (Susana Vera/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel inherited this Chelsea team from Frank Lampard, the club great who was sacked in January 2021 following a run of two wins in eight Premier League matches, leaving the west London club sitting ninth in the table.
Tuchel, now the England manager, completed a remarkable turnaround as Chelsea won their second Champions League trophy. By reaching the final, Tuchel also went one step further with Chelsea than the season prior with Paris Saint-Germain.
Kai Havertz scored the winner against a Manchester City side chasing a first Champions League title. His 42nd-minute goal was his Chelsea career highlight in a mixed time at the club, and a high, too, for Mason Mount, who provided the assist but has been regularly injured since his move to Manchester United in the summer of 2023.
Advertisement
Pep Guardiola selected an all-attacking line-up as he went in search of his third triumph in the competition as manager, but his tactics fell flat and striker Sergio Aguero ended a magnificent City career with defeat.
Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Liverpool — 2019 UEFA Champions League
Jurgen Klopp celebrates winning his first trophy as Liverpool manager (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
The 2019 Champions League final in Madrid was far from entertaining, failing to capture the tournament’s previous highs. Not that Liverpool would have cared much, as they were able to correct the 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the final the year before.
Liverpool and Spurs both completed almighty comebacks that campaign. Liverpool lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of the semi-finals at Camp Nou, only to win 4-0 at Anfield and prevail on aggregate. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick corner into Divock Origi for the fourth goal was one that sticks in the mind.
Spurs, under Mauricio Pochettino, had magical moments, too. Facing being knocked out by Manchester City, Fernando Llorente scored the goal at the Etihad that brought Spurs level on aggregate at 4-4, helping them advance on away goals. Spurs were then 3-0 down on aggregate to Ajax with 55 minutes to go at the Johan Cruyff Arena, before Lucas Moura scored a hat-trick to see them through on away goals again.
In the final, Liverpool were marginally the better team, though they had far less possession than Spurs. Mohamed Salah put Jurgen Klopp’s team ahead from the penalty spot and Origi made sure of the win, which secured Klopp his first trophy as Liverpool manager.
It was also the night Alexander-Arnold uttered the now famous words: “I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dreams came true.”
Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal — 2019 UEFA Europa League
Both the Champions League and Europa League had all-English finals in 2019.
Eden Hazard dominated this game for Chelsea in Baku’s Olympic Stadium, his final match for the club before an £89million (then $115.7m) move to Real Madrid.
Advertisement
The Belgian winger scored twice and assisted Pedro to give Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri the first trophy of his managerial career. Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud was the other Chelsea scorer that night as the club won the fifth European title in its history.
The next month, Sarri left Chelsea, the Italian’s reign lasting just one season. His counterpart that night, Unai Emery, didn’t last too much longer at Arsenal, and was sacked in the November of that year.
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (United win 6-5 on penalties) — 2008 UEFA Champions League
Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs lift the Champions League trophy at the Luzhniki Stadium (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
This all-Premier League final is best remembered for John Terry’s slip in the penalty shootout. At the time, the former Chelsea captain said the miss would “haunt me for the rest of my life”.
With the score 1-1 after extra time — Frank Lampard equalising on the stroke of half-time after Cristiano Ronaldo had put United in front in the 26th minute — the game went to penalties.
As torrential rain poured down in Moscow, Ronaldo — who won his first Ballon d’Or that year — missed his penalty (United’s third). Chelsea went four for four, so it was on Terry to win Europe’s biggest prize for his team. But the defender slipped, his effort hitting the post. In sudden death, Nicolas Anelka had his penalty saved and so it was Sir Alex Ferguson’s side celebrating a third European Cup win in the club’s illustrious history.
Terry sobbed on the pitch. He said afterwards: “I feel I have let everybody down and this hurts me more than anything.”
In a poignant moment, 50 years after the Munich air crash, Sir Bobby Charlton, a survivor of that tragedy, joined the United players as they went up to collect their medals.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur (2-3 on aggregate) — 1972 UEFA Cup
Phil Parkes (right), goalkeeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers, takes the ball away from Tottenham’s Martin Peters (Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Spurs winning a trophy? Unheard of in recent times, with the club currently enduring a 17-year trophy drought. Yet, 53 years ago, they did win the equivalent of today’s Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup until 2009).
These meetings between Spurs and Wolves in 1972 — the UEFA Cup was a two-legged affair until 1997 — were the final of the inaugural UEFA Cup competition. It was the first UEFA club tournament final overall to involve two teams from the same association.
A Martin Chivers double won Spurs the first leg 2-1 at Molineux, and a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane secured the title 3-2 on aggregate.
(Top photo Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
What to make of Dodgers’ recent losing streak and roster shakeup?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers got swept at Dodger Stadium for the first time in almost two years — by the lowly Angels. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz dug into how the sweep exposed the team’s depth issues, why the front office is making some tough calls and what it all means for this Dodgers club.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLet’s break down their conversation.A new kind of wake-up call“This is kind of the worst the Dodgers have looked in quite some time,” Jordan acknowledged, recapping the Angels’ surprising three-game sweep. Whether it was Clayton Kershaw grinding but not dominating in his return or the […]
Former All-Star Luis Robert Jr. on trade value amid sub-.200 season: ‘Don’t think anyone is going to take a chance on me’
In peak form, Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. would be a prime target on the trade market. Robert is far from peak form.Even he doubts his trade value ahead of MLB's July 31 trade deadline.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 27-year-old former All-Star who's a holdover from Chicago's brief window of contention in 2020 and 2021 addressed his trade value on Tuesday in an interview with MLB.com's Scott Merkin."Right now as my season is going, I don't think anyone is going to take a chance on me," Robert told Merkin.That's not going to help the White Sox in their quest to load up on prospects.But it's not like Robert is giving away any secrets. A cursory glance at his stats tells the story. Robert is slashing a paltry .183/.281/.308 this season with five home runs and 17 RBI. His MLB-best 17 stolen bases […]
Arrascaeta, do Flamengo, aponta camisa 10 genial no Brasileirão: “Muito inteligente”
Arrascaeta comemora gol no Maracanã (Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo) Arrascaeta não esconde que sente falta de Everton Ribeiro no Flamengo. Multicampeão ao lado do ex-camisa 7 do clube carioca, o uruguaio, caso fosse possível, selaria o retorno do antigo companheiro de meio-campo. Atualmente no Bahia, um dos jogadores mais talentosos do Brasileirão foi enaltecido pela genialidade dentro das quatro linhas, algo que trouxe uma enorme idolatria no clube carioca. “Everton Ribeiro (traria de volta). Minha dupla! Saudades, baixinho. Baixinho é muito inteligente. E ainda tenho um carinho muito especial fora do campo por ele.”, disse Arrascaeta, em entrevista ao Desimpedidos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Quero mandar um abraço para ele. Volta para nós.”, acrescentou. Neymar no Flamengo? Admirador do futebol de Neymar, Arrascaeta gostaria de jogar com o craque no Flamengo. Convicto de que o camisa 10 sequer precisa de convite, o uruguaio […]
Did the San Francisco 49ers make a mistake in signing Brock Purdy to $265 million contract extension?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)Did the San Francisco 49ers make a mistake in signing Brock Purdy to a massive five-year, $265 million contract extension, with $181 million guaranteed?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat's the question Frank Schwab and Charles Robinson debated on the latest edition of the "Inside Coverage" podcast.Frank's verdict: Yes, the 49ers made a mistakeSchwab criticized the extension. He acknowledges that Purdy has earned his contract and that it’s a feel-good sports story. However, he doesn’t believe the 49ers can win a Super Bowl with Purdy now making $53 million a year. He argues that the team's previous Super Bowl window was due in large part to having a quarterback on a rookie contract — which allowed […]
George Wendt, the Beer-Loving Norm on ‘Cheers,’ Dies at 76
Hollywood is mourning the loss of George Wendt, the beloved actor who brought Norm Peterson to life on the iconic sitcom Cheers. At 76, Wendt leaves behind a prolific career in film, television, and theater, along with a legion of fans who remember him for his charisma, talent, and unmistakable sense of humor.Wendt rose to international fame through his portrayal of Norm, the bar's most loyal customer, whose entrance was always met with a resounding "Norm!" from the cast and audience alike. His role earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, making him one of the most beloved faces on American television during the 1980s and 1990s.Bianca Censori steps out in a dress that makes Europeans drop their ice creams as she walks byBeyond Cheers, Wendt enjoyed a varied career, appearing in films […]
Jason Kelce gets caught in the middle with Travis Kelce new flashy Miami bachelor bunker
The Kansas City Chiefs star just secured a jaw dropping $20 million mansion in Boca Raton, Florida a sleek, waterfront bachelor style compound packed with every luxury you can imagine. While it's great news for Travis (and likely for Taylor Swift, too, who's been spotted around the area), it's put big brother Jason Kelce in a bit of a tough spot. Why? Because it looks like Mom might be trading bedtime stories in Philly for poolside hangs in South Florida.Travis's new estate isn't just any offseason getaway. We're talking about a six-bedroom, seven bath palace inside the exclusive Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. It has a resort-style pool with a waterfall edge, a movie theater, a private dock, a wine room, 24/7 security, and plenty of space for guests including, of course, Mama Kelce. The place screams NFL superstar […]
Related
What to make of Dodgers’ recent losing streak and roster shakeup?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers got swept at Dodger Stadium for the first time in almost two years — by the lowly Angels. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz dug into how the sweep exposed the team’s depth issues, why the front office is making some tough calls and what it all means for this Dodgers club.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLet’s break down their conversation.A new kind of wake-up call“This is kind of the worst the Dodgers have looked in quite some time,” Jordan acknowledged, recapping the Angels’ surprising three-game sweep. Whether it was Clayton Kershaw grinding but not dominating in his return or the […]
Former All-Star Luis Robert Jr. on trade value amid sub-.200 season: ‘Don’t think anyone is going to take a chance on me’
In peak form, Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. would be a prime target on the trade market. Robert is far from peak form.Even he doubts his trade value ahead of MLB's July 31 trade deadline.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 27-year-old former All-Star who's a holdover from Chicago's brief window of contention in 2020 and 2021 addressed his trade value on Tuesday in an interview with MLB.com's Scott Merkin."Right now as my season is going, I don't think anyone is going to take a chance on me," Robert told Merkin.That's not going to help the White Sox in their quest to load up on prospects.But it's not like Robert is giving away any secrets. A cursory glance at his stats tells the story. Robert is slashing a paltry .183/.281/.308 this season with five home runs and 17 RBI. His MLB-best 17 stolen bases […]
Arrascaeta, do Flamengo, aponta camisa 10 genial no Brasileirão: “Muito inteligente”
Arrascaeta comemora gol no Maracanã (Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo) Arrascaeta não esconde que sente falta de Everton Ribeiro no Flamengo. Multicampeão ao lado do ex-camisa 7 do clube carioca, o uruguaio, caso fosse possível, selaria o retorno do antigo companheiro de meio-campo. Atualmente no Bahia, um dos jogadores mais talentosos do Brasileirão foi enaltecido pela genialidade dentro das quatro linhas, algo que trouxe uma enorme idolatria no clube carioca. “Everton Ribeiro (traria de volta). Minha dupla! Saudades, baixinho. Baixinho é muito inteligente. E ainda tenho um carinho muito especial fora do campo por ele.”, disse Arrascaeta, em entrevista ao Desimpedidos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Quero mandar um abraço para ele. Volta para nós.”, acrescentou. Neymar no Flamengo? Admirador do futebol de Neymar, Arrascaeta gostaria de jogar com o craque no Flamengo. Convicto de que o camisa 10 sequer precisa de convite, o uruguaio […]
Did the San Francisco 49ers make a mistake in signing Brock Purdy to $265 million contract extension?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)Did the San Francisco 49ers make a mistake in signing Brock Purdy to a massive five-year, $265 million contract extension, with $181 million guaranteed?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat's the question Frank Schwab and Charles Robinson debated on the latest edition of the "Inside Coverage" podcast.Frank's verdict: Yes, the 49ers made a mistakeSchwab criticized the extension. He acknowledges that Purdy has earned his contract and that it’s a feel-good sports story. However, he doesn’t believe the 49ers can win a Super Bowl with Purdy now making $53 million a year. He argues that the team's previous Super Bowl window was due in large part to having a quarterback on a rookie contract — which allowed […]
George Wendt, the Beer-Loving Norm on ‘Cheers,’ Dies at 76
Hollywood is mourning the loss of George Wendt, the beloved actor who brought Norm Peterson to life on the iconic sitcom Cheers. At 76, Wendt leaves behind a prolific career in film, television, and theater, along with a legion of fans who remember him for his charisma, talent, and unmistakable sense of humor.Wendt rose to international fame through his portrayal of Norm, the bar's most loyal customer, whose entrance was always met with a resounding "Norm!" from the cast and audience alike. His role earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, making him one of the most beloved faces on American television during the 1980s and 1990s.Bianca Censori steps out in a dress that makes Europeans drop their ice creams as she walks byBeyond Cheers, Wendt enjoyed a varied career, appearing in films […]
Jason Kelce gets caught in the middle with Travis Kelce new flashy Miami bachelor bunker
The Kansas City Chiefs star just secured a jaw dropping $20 million mansion in Boca Raton, Florida a sleek, waterfront bachelor style compound packed with every luxury you can imagine. While it's great news for Travis (and likely for Taylor Swift, too, who's been spotted around the area), it's put big brother Jason Kelce in a bit of a tough spot. Why? Because it looks like Mom might be trading bedtime stories in Philly for poolside hangs in South Florida.Travis's new estate isn't just any offseason getaway. We're talking about a six-bedroom, seven bath palace inside the exclusive Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. It has a resort-style pool with a waterfall edge, a movie theater, a private dock, a wine room, 24/7 security, and plenty of space for guests including, of course, Mama Kelce. The place screams NFL superstar […]
Be the first to leave a comment