Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for Wednesday’s crunch Europa League final in Bilbao that pits the only unbeaten team in the competition against a team that have already beaten them three times this season.
Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils have been in imperious form in Europe’s second-tier competition, scoring a whopping 35 goals, which is in stark contrast to their league form.
Spurs have been equally poor in the Premier League, sitting one point and a place below United in 17th position, with one game to go.
The showdown at the San Mames offers a shot at redemption, as well as a place in next season’s Champions League, adding to the high stakes in a rare all-English final.
Here are five players who could leave their fans sinning Ole! for months to come…
Spurs
Cristian Romero (central defender)
It was a toss-up between the abrasive and powerful Argentinian defender and his pacy centre-back partner Micky van de Wen.
The decider was Romero’s experience in lifting the World Cup trophy, as well as the Copa America. He has shown he is a man for the big occasion, and there are few bigger for Spurs fans right now.
That experience counts a lot in a Tottenham team that have been starved of success.
Romero is also no slouch, but I love the edge he brings to the Spurs backline, while offering a threat at set-pieces too.
He reads the game well, which will be key in covering for the marauding Pedro Porro.
The combative Romero’s strength can also be his weakness, however, as he is prone to rash challenges.
Rodrigo Bentancur (midfielder)
The Uruguayan midfielder will have to carry the extra burden of providing some of the attacking spark in the absence of creative players like Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall.
Bentancur is a class act, however, and won’t shy away from the responsibility.
Apart from knitting play together for the London side, and spraying passes around, he will also have to play a key role in disrupting United’s attacks.
Key to that role may be nullifying United’s main man, Bruno Fernandes, who could be devastating to Spurs’ hopes if allowed free reign.
It seems like a lot to place on one man’s shoulders, but Bentancur has the engine to get around the park, as well as the ability to read and cut out play.
Dominic Solanke (forward)
It would be tempting to go with ageing speedster Son Heung-min as the sentimental choice, but Solanke’s form in front of goal in the competition cannot be ignored.
He has already registered five goals and four assists in Europa League action.
The instinctive finisher on his best day, Solanke offers an all-round threat, able to score with his head and boot, and blessed with enough trickery and pace to trouble leaden-footed defenders.
He can act as the focal point of the attack as a traditional No 9, and can also drop back to help link play, make space for midfielders, or drift wide to find gaps in the defence.
United’s defenders could find him a handful on the night.
He also doesn’t neglect his defensive duties, and often tracks back to win the ball when United surrender possession in potentially tricky situations.
Yet Fernandes is at his best when allowed the freedom to express himself and the safety blanket of Manuel Ugarte or Casimero next to him should allow him that.
Spurs will have to shut him down if they are to have any chance of winning.
Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes (midfielder)
Head and shoulders a cut above the rest at the Red Devils, and likely many other teams, the mercurial midfielder is Mr United right now, often carrying the team on his shoulders.
He is also their main scoring threat, having banged in a joint high seven goals so far in the competition. He also has four assists.
The skipper thrives in the spaces between opposition lines, spraying passes with metronomic accuracy, popping up in the box late to devastating effect or unleashing long-range scorchers from open play or free-kicks.
Harry Maguire (defender/striker/winger)
This could be my most controversial pick, yet the versatility the former England skipper has displayed in the Europa League this season gets him the nod against the dependable defender Nouassair Mazraoui and exciting attacker Amad Diallo.
Maguire has popped with crucial goals that have helped propel United to the showpiece.
He scored the dramatic winner in the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon, underlining his value to the team, especially when the chips are down.
The powerful player is a strong aerial threat, particularly during set-pieces.
He also doesn’t get enough credit for his distribution.
Add to the list his new-found dribbling and crossing ability on the wing, and Maguire’s inclusion does not seem that bizarre after all.
