Ange claims Tottenham will ‘build’ Spurs ace up ahead of Europa League final as a warning sign
As the football season reaches its dramatic crescendo, two fallen giants of English football stand on the brink of redemption.
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, both enduring their worst Premier League campaigns in recent memory, now face each other in a Europa League final that represents far more than just silverware – it’s a lifeline to salvage something from the wreckage of their domestic disasters.
Ange Postecoglou’s careful handling of Son Heung-min’s fitness has emerged as a critical subplot ahead of the May 21st showdown in Bilbao. The Tottenham manager’s revelation that he’s essentially wrapping his captain in “cotton wool” for the next ten days speaks volumes about the South Korean’s importance to Spurs’ hopes.
Son’s return from injury couldn’t be more perfectly timed, with his 11 goals and 12 assists this season marking him as Tottenham’s most potent attacking threat despite turning 32 earlier this year.
Postecoglou’s meticulous approach to Son’s rehabilitation – carefully managing his training load while ensuring psychological readiness through measured match minutes – demonstrates the Australian’s understanding of what’s at stake.
“We can build him up,” Postecoglou stated with the calm assurance of a man who knows his entire season hinges on having his talisman at peak condition for one night in Spain.
The Spurs boss appears acutely aware that against a resurgent Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, they’ll need every weapon at their disposal.
For United, the journey to Bilbao has been equally improbable. Amorim’s side demolished Athletic Club with surprising ruthlessness, racking up a 7-1 aggregate victory that announced their intentions to claim the trophy.
The Portuguese manager has quietly transformed United’s mentality since taking charge, instilling a tactical flexibility that saw them overcome deficits in both legs against the Basque outfit.
Their 4-1 second-leg victory at Old Trafford, coming from behind after an early scare, showcased the kind of resilience that had been conspicuously absent during their dismal 16th-place Premier League campaign.
The contrasting paths to the final reveal much about both teams’ European approaches. Tottenham methodically dismantled Norwegian outsiders Bodo/Glimt with professional 3-1 and 2-0 victories, while United produced the competition’s standout performance by humiliating one of Spain’s most historic clubs in their own fortress.
These differing routes set up a fascinating tactical battle between Postecoglou’s attacking principles and Amorim’s adaptable, pragmatic system.
What makes this final particularly compelling is what it represents beyond the obvious prize. For the winner: Champions League football next season, a financial lifeline worth approximately £50 million, and temporary respite from the torrent of criticism they’ve faced all season.
For the loser: the grim reality of their disastrous campaigns with no mitigating factors, and a long summer of difficult questions about the future.
Son Heung-min’s fitness could well prove the deciding factor. Postecoglou’s revelation that the forward is “good” physically but needed minutes “psychologically” hints at the mental fragility that has plagued Tottenham all season.
The Australian manager will hope that carefully managing Son’s buildup – including planned minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly – will have him mentally and physically sharp for what may be the biggest match of his Tottenham career.
United have their own returning heroes to consider. The possible availability of key players like Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez after injury layoffs gives Amorim selection headaches of the most pleasant kind.
Their experience in big matches could prove invaluable against a Tottenham side whose only current player with major final experience is the perpetually injured Hugo Lloris.
The San Mames Stadium provides a fittingly intense backdrop for this high-stakes encounter. While UEFA’s decision to host the final at Athletic Club’s home ground has drawn criticism, the electric atmosphere generated by 53,000 passionate fans will test both teams’ nerve.
For Tottenham’s young squad and United’s rebuilt side, this represents virgin territory – neither group has experienced a European final of this magnitude.
As the countdown to May 21st begins, both managers face identical yet opposite challenges. Postecoglou must channel Tottenham’s attacking flair while shoring up their defensive vulnerabilities that have seen them concede 20 more Premier League goals than last season.
Amorim needs to temper United’s new-found aggression with the discipline required in finals football. Whichever manager solves this puzzle will likely end their season with unexpected glory.
For neutrals, the match offers the intriguing spectacle of two fallen giants desperately clawing for redemption. For the fans of both clubs, it represents either salvation or the final confirmation of their worst fears about the direction of their teams.
One thing is certain – in a season where both Tottenham and Manchester United have hit historic lows, the Europa League final offers one last chance to rewrite the narrative.
Postecoglou’s careful nurturing of Son Heung-min may prove to be either a masterstroke or a footnote in another disappointing chapter.
But as the Tottenham boss himself acknowledged, in a final of this magnitude, having your best players available and confident can make all the difference. Whether that’s enough to overcome United’s resurgence under Amorim will be revealed under the bright lights of Bilbao.