3️⃣ things we learned from the Europa League final | OneFootball

Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the 2024/25 Europa League at San Mamés.

Here are our key takeaways from the final.

Tottenham stepped up when they needed to

📸 Carl Recine - 2025 Getty Images

Tottenham's squad is packed with talent that has underperformed this season in the Premier League and it's been a far from ideal season.

However, the big players turned up in the Europa League final and showed their class when the team needed it most.

Pape Sarr's dangerous delivery, finished off by Johnson's bundled finish just before half time, ended Spurs' 17-year wait for a goal in any major cup final and showed the Londoners' knack for scoring in Europe as they found the net in 13 of their 15 Europa League games throughout the campaign.

Ange Postecoglou's side were also superb in defence, frustrating Man United and defending resolutely until the final whistle.

Their resilience was epitomised by Micky van de Ven's goalline clearance with 20 minutes to go that proved vital in the eventual narrow victory.

Others played their part too, with Guglielmo Vicario making match-winning saves from Alejandro Garnacho and Luke Shaw late on.

Man United punished for lacklustre attack

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At a glance, United dominated the stats, with 16 shots and 73% possession, but the season-long issue of scoring goals plagued Ruben Amorim's side once again in Bilbao.

The Red Devils had some decent opportunities; the best falling to Amad Diallo early in the first half as he lashed wide, while Bruno Fernandes' header was inches from nestling into the bottom corner.

Otherwise, United struggled to find a way through Spurs' backline and there was not a moment of quality to get the Manchester outfit back into the game after they went behind.

It was a third consecutive game where United failed to find the net and their lack of any serious threat in front of goal once again proved costly on the biggest stage.

Huge Spurs relief as trophy drought ends

📸 Justin Setterfield - 2025 Getty Images

Postecoglou's claims that he usually wins silverware in his second season at a club would have been brushed off by many nearly 24 months ago.

However, the Australian coach has stuck to his word and gave Spurs a massive victory to end a 17-year trophy drought.

Tottenham were deserved winners on the night and have performed admirably throughout the Europa League campaign, particularly in the knockout rounds, where they won five of their final six games.

The relief at full-time was clear amongst the Spurs supporters, players and backroom staff as they secured European glory for the first time since 1984.

Wednesday night's triumph follows so many nearly moments in recent years - the 2019 Champions League final loss to Liverpool and EFL final defeats to Chelsea in 2015 and Manchester City in 2021.

Spurs eventually broke their duck on Wednesday, though and the entire club will savour this moment as the prospect of jumping up a level back into Europe's elite looms for the 2025/26 campaign.

📸 JOSEP LAGO - AFP or licensors