Man United Handed Huge Advantage Over Tottenham if They Meet in Europa League Final
- Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are close to reaching the Europa League final after impressive outings in the first leg of the semi-final
- If they both reach the final, Man United will have a slight advantage over Tottenham in their preparation for the final set for May 21
- Both sides have done poorly in the Premier League and will be aiming to emerge victorious if they meet in the final
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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur could meet in the Europa League final after they took major steps towards the final in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Source: Getty Images
How Man United performed vs Athletic Club
Man United crushed Athletic Club in the first leg of the semi-final on Thursday, May 1, at San Mames, the venue of the Europa League final.
Harry Maguire's magic on the wing and Bruno Fernandes gave the Red Devils a huge 3-0 win.
Only a monumental collapse at Old Trafford can prevent Ruben Amorim's side from progressing to the final.
"Everybody knows that it's really important for our season," Amorim said after the game. "We know that nothing is going to save our season, but this can be huge."
"Winning a trophy and also to get in the Champions League, to have European games next year, could change a lot of things in our club, even in the summer."
Man United are 14th in the Premier League, and winning the Europa League will see them earn a Champions League spot.
How Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt unfolded
Tottenham, just like Man United, are having a dreadful Premier League season; they are 16th and have suffered 19 defeats.
A Europa League win would not only 'save' their season, but would also get them their first trophy in 17 years.
They defeated Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the semi-final, but need to close the tie next week.
"Winners don't think about things in that way. They don't think about what could possibly go wrong. They have a real clarity around what they need to do to win and I'm trying to create that with this group of players," Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said ahead of their match against West Ham.
Source: Getty Images
What advantage does Man United have?
The two sides could meet in the final on May 21 in Bilbao, but their preparations will be different.
The 13-time Premier League champions will benefit from five days of rest before the final, while Spurs will get just three and a half days.
Man United's forthcoming Premier League match with Chelsea was rescheduled for Friday, May 16, due to the Women's FA Cup final between the same teams on Sunday, May 18.
Tottenham, on the other hand, face Aston Villa on Sunday, May 18, meaning the North London club will have 42 hours and 15 minutes less recovery time, per MEN.
With relegation fears behind them, both teams are now expected to focus fully on a potential Europa League final.
Supercomputer predicts Europa League champion
In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported on Opta's supercomputer prediction for the Europa League final.
Man United were given a 52.4% chance of winning the competition while Tottenham have 43.2%.
Tottenham have beaten the Red Devils three times this season already, including at Old Trafford.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
