Eamonn Holmes has conceded “it feels pants” to have watched his beloved football team, Manchester United, slump to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Spurs ended their 17-year trophy drought last night with a narrow 1-0 victory over United at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium thanks to Brennan Johnson’s scrappy first-half goal in a match that lacked quality but meant everything to the North London club.
The triumph marks Spurs’ first piece of silverware since winning the League Cup in 2008 and their first European trophy in more than four decades.
The match was a tight affair with both teams struggling to create clear chances. The decisive moment came in the 42nd minute when Pape Sarr played a ball into the United penalty area.
Johnson didn’t get a clean touch, but his presence caused confusion as Luke Shaw failed to clear the danger, allowing Johnson to nudge the ball past United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Manchester United pushed for an equaliser after the break. Their best opportunity came when Rasmus Hojlund’s looping header looked destined for the net, only for Micky van de Ven to make a brilliant acrobatic clearance on the goal line.
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The victory carries enormous significance for Tottenham, securing them a place in next season’s Champions League despite their dismal Premier League campaign that has left them 17th in the table.
For Manchester United, the defeat compounds a miserable season that sees them facing their worst league finish in five decades, currently sitting 16th in the Premier League.
The loss means they will have no European football next season for the first time since the 2014/15 campaign.
After witnessing yet another dismal performance from his team and having to come to terms with an incredibly underwhelming season, Eamonn took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the night.
“Today feels pants , I just feel sick…” Eamonn began on Instagram alongside a snap of United fans in the stadium. “But… what supporters!”
Eamonn then shared a series of applause emojis before he signed off: “United we Stand. One Religion #MUFC.”
Before long, fans rushed to the comments section to echo Eamonn’s heartbreak, with one hitting out: “Great supporters, historic club, average players.”
“We will come back again a season to forget not only for our awful season on the field but we lost our much loved Lawman Dennis. He was what being a United player was all about,” a second added.
“Not the first time we lost a final but sucks more after a terrible league performance…Pants indeed,” a third concurred before an optimistic fourth chimed: “Onward & upwards, things will only get better with time!”
And another weighed in: “Gutted Eamonn….But United we stand. I think if players stopped thinking more about their job, rather than what hairstyle/colour or tattoos before a big match, that definitely would be a start!” (sic)
United have now suffered 21 defeats in all competitions this season, their most in a campaign since 1973/74 when they were relegated. The Europa League final represented their last chance to salvage something from a disastrous season.
This was United’s fourth defeat to Tottenham this season, extending their winless run against Spurs to seven consecutive matches.
Postecoglou stuck to his word by winning a trophy in his second season at the club, claiming vindication amid a poor Premier League campaign. “Mate, I’m a winner,” the Australian declared after the match, having delivered on his promise despite facing intense scrutiny over his position.
The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among Spurs fans both in Bilbao and back in London. After a season of struggle domestically, the Europa League triumph has given supporters something to cheer about at last.
