Tottenham ends 17-year trophy drought after beating United in the Europa League final

Tottenham win Europa League, ending 17-year trophy drought and earning UCL spot; Man United slump to worst-ever PL season after final defeat in Bilbao

Heung Min Son lifts the Europa League trophy after Tottenham beat Manchester United on Wednesday in Bilbao. (Photo credit: Sky News)

Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year trophy drought at Bilbao on Wednesday as they beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League.

The North London side currently sits in the 17th spot on the Premier League log but would play in the Champions League next season, becoming the lowest-ranked team to win a European trophy. Where does this massive feat by Tottenham leave Manchester United?

The Red Devils went into the final on Wednesday night with optimism; they knew what to do but couldn’t do it and will now end the season as the worst Manchester United team ever to grace the Premier League as they currently sit in 16th spot on the log.

How did the final pan out? Ange Postecoglou, who had promised everyone that he always wins things in his second season, came into the final with a game plan, and he stuck to it. He was pragmatic from the first minute, and when his side got the goal that eventually became the winner, he managed the rest of the game brilliantly.

United played like a naïve bunch of rookies. Harry Maguire, the hero of the knockout rounds, allowed Cristian Romero to wind him up, which ultimately earned him a yellow card, while the rest of his teammates chose running instead of strategic positioning.

With a big summer in front of Manchester United, how do they negotiate with players without European football? How do they convince targets like Gyokeres and Nico Williams to join them without the promise of any form of European football?

A heartbroken Ruben Amorim took responsibility for the damaging defeat and has promised to fight on, except the club wants him out. "I have nothing to show to the fans, so in this moment it is a little bit of faith," Amorim told reporters. ”

"Let's see. I am always open. If the board and fans feel I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation, but I will not quit." I am really confident in my job. And as you see, I will not change anything in the way I do things."

Heung Min Son was in tears as he expressed his joy. Son became the first South Korean to lead a club to a major European trophy, and he was quite happy to call himself a legend. "Let's say I'm a legend. Why not? Only today!" Son told TNT Sports.

"Seventeen years nobody has done it, so with such amazing players, yeah, today's the day. Probably today I will say I'm a legend of this club." I feel amazing. This is what I've always dreamed of, and today is the day it happened. Dream came really, really true. I'm so, so happy. I am the happiest man in the world."

Tottenham has a scruffy Brennan Johnson goal to thank for the win, as well as Micky Van De Ven’s goal line clearance from a Rasmus Hojlund header and Vicario, who saved from Luke Shaw late in the game, handing them their first trophy since 2008 and ultimately sending Manchester United into despair.