“Bring on the all-English final.”
That was Mark Bosnich’s verdict on Stan Sport with the rescue act now on for both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
Big wins for both teams in the Europa League semi-finals on Friday (AEST) kept alive their hopes of lifting a major trophy and qualifying for the Champions League.
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James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team’s second goal. Getty
Tottenham won 3-1 at home against Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt while United beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 at the San Mames in Spain.
Both Spurs and United have endured miserable domestic campaigns and are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.
There are reports that Tottenham’s Australian manager Ange Postecoglou could soon lose his job but European glory could yet see him salvage the season.
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Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke were Tottenham’s goal scorers.
The second leg is on a synthetic surface in the north of Norway, in the Arctic Circle next Friday (AEST).
“It was pretty negative coming into this game regarding Ange Postecoglou and his future,” Katie Shanahan told Stan Sport from north London.
Ange Postecoglou shakes hands with Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur. Getty
“There are reports saying that even if he does win the Europa League, he still would get sacked, which is weird, bearing in mind they’re on the brink of the Europa League final.
“They could get Champions League football and they’re still going to potentially sack the manager? It’s just quite a strange situation.
“However, (Spurs owner) Daniel Levy could change his mind, bearing in mind the atmosphere tonight. Maybe the fans haven’t turned…
A tifo reads “To Dare Is To Do” as the players walk out. Getty
“My experience here tonight is quite the opposite, really. It feels as though they’ve actually all been backing Ange, and I did hear at one point, even after Dominic Solanke’s goal, them saying ‘Daniel Levy out.’ So maybe it’s actually more dissatisfaction with Daniel Levy than Ange Postecoglou.
“Maybe he can turn this thing around when he goes into that meeting with Daniel and say, ‘look, I’ve turned things around.’ This could be the bargaining tool that could keep him on until next season.”
Indeed, Postecoglou could yet live up to his proclamation that he always wins a trophy in his second season.
That record – which was carried through with former clubs Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos and Celtic – has looked in serious jeopardy for much of a season that has seen Spurs lose 19 times in the league.
But the 3-1 win will fuel belief that Postecoglou could deliver the goods again.
Spurs were ahead after 39 seconds through Brennan Johnson’s record goal, and James Maddison doubled the lead in the 34th minute.
Solanke’s penalty in the 61st minute made it 3-0, but Ulrik Saltnes gave the Norwegians hope by pulling a goal back in the 83rd.
“It was not ideal conceding that late on, we wanted to keep a clean sheet and take that 3-0 lead there,” Solanke said.
“Maybe we lacked a bit of concentration at the end and gave an opportunity for them to score that goal.”
Ange Postecoglou looks on. Getty
A measured Postecoglou agreed in his post-match press conference.
“I don’t think the scoreline reflects our dominance,” he said.
“But at the end of the first leg, all you want is to be in a good position and we’ve got ourselves into a good position.”
In Spain, United produced possibly their finest performance of the season to take a commanding first leg lead against 10 man Bilbao.
Casemiro headed Ruben Amorim’s team in front in the 30th minute after a cross from Harry Maguire.
It was 2-0 seven minutes later when Rasmus Hojlund was brought down in the box by Dani Vivian and a penalty was awarded after a VAR review.
Vivian was shown a red card for the foul and Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot.
Fernandes got his second and United’s third in the 45th minute by running through on goal and curling a shot past goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala.
United’s win could have been even more emphatic with Noussair Mazraoui and Casemiro both hitting the woodwork.
The second leg is at Old Trafford next Friday (AEST) and United are potentially just 90 minutes away from returning to Bilbao, which is staging the final on May 22 (AEST).
United manager Ruben Amorim, however, warned against complacency in the second leg.
“They can do the same thing in Old Trafford because they are really strong, they are really intense,” Amorim said.
“Of course, we are in the advantage. We have our fans, but again, this could change.”
Chelsea completed a good night for English teams by beating Djurgarden 4-1 in Sweden in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final. Nicolas Jackson scored twice in the win.
Real Betis won 2-1 against Fiorentina with on-loan United forward Antony getting a goal to maintain his impressive form since moving to Spain.
