Brennan Johnson’s scrappy goal sealed a 1-0 win for Tottenham Hotspur over Manchester United in the Europa League final, ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought.
Johnson expressed the significance of the win, saying, “this is what it’s all about, this club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years, honestly, this means so much..
”Ever since I came here, it’s been (people saying) ‘Tottenham are a good team, but they never get it done’, we got it done!”
The match took place at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on May 21, 2025.
Spurs’ victory means they’ll play in next season’s Champions League, while Manchester United will miss out, dealing a severe financial blow.
Despite their triumph, manager Ange Postecoglou’s future remained uncertain due to Tottenham’s poor domestic campaign, with the team sitting just above Manchester United in the Premier League table.
Postecoglou had previously defended himself, saying, “I’m not a clown,” but ultimately had the last laugh.
The match itself was intensed but lacking in quality, with both teams struggling to keep possession.
Spurs took the lead after 42 minutes when Johnson’s attempted flick bounced off Luke Shaw’s shoulder and crossed the goal line.
In the second half, Tottenham sat back, trying to protect their lead and look for counter-attacking opportunities.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged that winning the trophy wouldn’t solve the club’s deep-seated problems but could set them up well for the future.
Unfortunately for United, they left Bilbao empty-handed and would not participate in European football next season for the first time since the 2014-2015 season.
AFP
