In recent weeks, much has been made of the success of both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League. The two Premier League giants have both made their way to the final of the competition and will battle it out in Bilbao at the end of May with the trophy on the line. But despite their continental exploits, both clubs have come under fire following their semifinal victories.
Media Hypocrisy
The English media have belittled the achievements of both sides, dismissing the Europa League as an irrelevant competition and stating that whoever goes on to win it doesn’t deserve their spot in the Champions League next season. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has, quite rightly, pointed out the hypocrisy, saying that such a narrative hasn’t been spun before and is only being spewed now as the media and opposition supporters are “fearing that it [Spurs winning a European trophy] might actually happen.”
Winning the Europa League has handed a spot in the UCL to its victor ever since 2015. In the decade since then, the likes of Sevilla, Manchester United, and Eintracht Frankfurt have all taken full advantage by winning the tournament and punching their ticket to the most elite table in European football the following season. This term, the sports betting websites feel that the upcoming Bilbao showpiece could swing either way.
There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the possibilities. The latest odds from Bovada’s sports website currently price Manchester United as the narrow -125 betting favorite, with Spurs just behind at +105. Whatever happens, both clubs know that the upcoming final represents their only chance to save an otherwise dismal campaign. The two clubs are currently positioned in 16th and 17th in the Premier League respectively, and winning in Bilbao will not only provide them with silverware, but also a Champions League berth – and the millions it brings with it – next season.
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Despite the two finalists coming under fire from all angles in recent weeks, teams prioritizing the Europa League over their domestic bread-and-butter is nothing new. Here are two times Premier League teams have done the exact same thing in years gone by.
Manchester United – 2016/17
Indeed, Manchester United, a finalist in the Europa League this season, has been in this very position before. Back in the 2016/17 season, iconic manager Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Red Devils, and with the campaign drawing to a close, he had a decision to make.
The Old Trafford outfit was still in with a chance of finishing in the top four of the Premier League and securing Champions League qualification that way. However, they had also embarked upon a deep run in Europe’s secondary competition, and if they won the tournament, they would seal their spot in the continent’s premier competition the following year, as well as winning silverware. Ultimately, the Special One chose the trophy.
After injuries in a home clash against Swansea City in the Premier League, Mourinho decided to prioritize the Europa League. He rested star players for domestic clashes, and results nosedived. Back-to-back defeats in North London to Arsenal and Spurs ended any hopes of finishing in the top four, but the Special One didn’t care one bit.
He masterminded a 2-0 victory against a youthful Ajax side in the Europa League final, securing a treble of sorts – he also won the League Cup and the Community Shield – in his first campaign in charge at Old Trafford. Speaking after that victory in Stockholm, he simply said, “We preferred to reach the Champions League this way.”
Will current manager Ruben Amorim follow in those footsteps eight years on? Only time will tell.
Liverpool – 2015/16
A year before Manchester United’s successful Europa League campaign, Liverpool were the team with a decision to make. Jürgen Klopp had just taken charge of the club following a disappointing final season under Brendan Rodgers. The incoming German boss perhaps could have mounted a top-four charge in the Premier League, but instead, he focused his efforts on Europe.
Much like with Mourinho the following year, the approach was successful. The Reds beat a murderer’s row of opponents en route to the Basel final, vanquishing heavyweights such as bitter rivals Manchester United, as well as Klopp’s former club, Borussia Dortmund, to secure their spot in the final. But unfortunately for them, the tale would have a bitter end. Liverpool met Europa League finalists Sevilla in the final, and all seemed to be going according to plan when Daniel Sturridge gave the Merseysiders an early lead. But unfortunately for the Premier League club, the Spaniards came roaring back to life in the second half. Striker Kevin Gameiro equalized seconds after the restart, before a brace from captain Coke sealed a 3-1 victory and handed the trophy – and the Champions League spot it brings with it – to Seville.