Europa League Final: Consequences for Ange and Amorim.

Karan Ahgun

— 3 min read
Europa League Final: Consequences for Ange and Amorim.

Tottenham Hotspur ended their 17 year wait for silverware by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday. The result of this match is likely to have a major impact on the future of the managers of both teams. But how much is either club willing to back their respective managers with all of the context from this season taken into consideration?

Ange Postecoglou has often cut a prickly personality throughout a difficult season for Spurs but victory in the Europa League final has somewhat vindicated him for his "I always win things in my second season" jibe, following a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal in September 2024. And now this quote has become one of those moments in football history which can be immortalised. And fair play to Postecoglou, who adapted his gung-ho footballing philosophy in the Europa League for something much more pragmatic and practical. In the final, Spurs had only 27% possession and took only 3 shots throughout the whole game. This is not something you would usually associate with an Ange Postecoglou team but the Aussie manager has demonstrated a willingness to be pragmatic since the quarter-finals of the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt. Spurs' Premier League has been a concern though with the team in 17th and having had 21 defeats this season, but they won't care about that right now! Ange has stated his case for having another go of it next season and will be hoping that by getting this monkey off the club's back, they will be able to move forward and sustain some progress on and off the pitch.

As for Ruben Amorim, this defeat in the final will inevitably ramp up the pressure to show a tangible improvement in performance levels next season. Since coming back from the March international break, Manchester United's form in the Premier League nosedived dramatically, with no wins and 6 losses in 8 games. It's obvious that United took the risk of putting all their eggs in the Europa League basket but the defeat in the final has meant that the risk has ultimately not paid off. Amorim retains the backing of the Manchester United board right now and will be counting on a summer of good recruitment to help evolve his team. The transfer of Wolves forward, Matheus Cunha, is virtually agreed which will be a good start to the window. There will be a focus on physicality and technical prowess for United and the club should look to shop within the Premier League so that new additions can adapt quicker. With one game a week next season, Amorim will have more time on the training ground to ensure that his players understand their roles and the club should aim to finish in the top 6.

Whilst both Spurs and United have had abysmal records in the Premier League, Spurs have ultimately won a trophy and will play in the Champions League next season. It is an achievement which many managers haven't been able to fulfil for the North London club, and Postecoglou should be rewarded for his success. For United, it has been an utterly embarrassing season, and the squad should be gutted this summer. A proper rebuild, with no shortcuts taken, should be put into motion this summer so that the club can start its journey back to where its status demands it to be!

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