Spurs Edge Man United in Chaotic Europa League Final to End Trophy Drought

Tottenham Hotspur claimed their first major silverware since 2008 — and their first European title in four decades — with a chaotic 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final at San Mamés. The performance wasn’t pretty, but for Spurs, the result was all that mattered.

Ange Postecoglou, known for his attacking philosophy, abandoned flair in favor of sheer pragmatism — a tactical shift that evoked the Mourinho era more than his own high-pressing legacy. It paid off, as Tottenham battled through a scrappy, disjointed match to lift the trophy.

The match itself was frenetic and messy, with both teams playing like underdogs in disbelief at their place in a European final. Neither side found rhythm, and Tottenham completed just 115 passes — with a staggering 61% pass completion rate. But Spurs stayed compact and committed, grinding out the win in classic cup-final fashion.

The decisive moment came in the second half, when Richarlison’s clever reverse pass unlocked the United defense. Rodrigo Bentancur fed Pape Sarr, whose inswinging cross led to a clumsy own goal as Luke Shaw inadvertently knocked the ball past his own goalkeeper, André Onana, under pressure from Brennan Johnson.

It was a fittingly chaotic goal for a disorganized game, but it marked sweet redemption for Johnson. The winger had been a target of fan frustration earlier in the season, even deactivating his social media after online abuse. Now credited with the winning goal — his 18th of the season — he celebrated a personal triumph amid team glory.

Despite some nervy moments, including a goal-line clearance from Micky van de Ven after a Guglielmo Vicario error, Spurs held firm. The final whistle unleashed unfiltered joy: players in white dancing, fans roaring, and Postecoglou beaming as his “second-season trophy” trend continued.

For now, Spurs won’t care how they won. But looking ahead, a bigger question looms: will Postecoglou’s Tottenham lean into this newfound grit, or return to the expansive football that defined his rise?