Whoever wins out of Man Utd and Tottenham has had a better season than Arsenal – they should be celebrated, not mocked

4 hours ago 35

WE are getting to a stage in football where everyone is constantly miserable and negative, moaning about everything.

All this talk that Manchester United or Tottenham should not be allowed to qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League because of their league positions.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, applauding.

Troy Deeney has said Arsenal face having a worse season than Man Utd or Spurs[/caption]

Manchester United players celebrating a goal.

Man Utd made the Europa League final after beating Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate[/caption]

Tottenham Hotspur players celebrating a goal.

Tottenham are in their first European final for six years after beating Bodo/Glimt 5-1 over two legs[/caption]

Whoever wins the Europa League will also book their spot in the Champions League[/caption]

And it has come from Arsene Wenger, of all people — the man who made a career out of finishing fourth with Arsenal to qualify for the Champions League and saying that was an achievement?

He is now saying that winning in Europe to play in a bigger European competition is not good enough because of where they finish in the league? Nonsense.

Manchester City have had a terrible year but could win the FA Cup — is that not allowed either?

Why can’t we just be positive and happy for two English clubs reaching a European final? And let’s not forget — Chelsea are in one too. We want English teams to win stuff, don’t we?

I can’t remember many having a whinge when West Ham qualified for the Europa League after winning the Conference League in 2023 when they finished 14th in the league.

A lot of teams are now taking the FA Cup more seriously because it means European qualification.

It is the same with the Europa — it makes people want to win it more. What’s bad about that?

I don’t tend to agree with Ange Postecoglou on a lot, but I do when others are suggesting United and Spurs are “too good” for the Europa League, and Ange is asking: Why?

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However, when he said people “fear” Spurs winning it — what’s the fear? We would all welcome it.

I would also hope the narrative around them not winning anything would change.

My “fear” is that if Spurs win it, they will still be in the same place with their manager’s future up in the air and doubts over whether they can push on.

Whereas, at least with United, I reckon it could be a real springboard to go attract proper signings and improve.

On a wider point, is this not also a reflection of how poor European football is currently as a whole?

We have got two teams sitting 15th and 16th in the Premier League, not doing anything and getting beaten up by the likes of West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

Why can’t we just be positive and happy for two English clubs reaching a European final? And let’s not forget — Chelsea are in one too. We want English teams to win stuff, don’t we?

Troy Deeney

And yet, they are both one game away from the very top table of Europe football. Is that saying more about us or them?

We are routinely mocked for saying we have the best league in the world, and two teams close to the relegation zone are breezing through Europe with barely a scratch.

I thought these lower competitions were supposed to be giving other teams on the continent more of a chance? It hasn’t been that way so far.

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Man Utd ratings vs Bilbao as magnifent Mount sends Red Devils to Europa League final but ineffective Garnacho hooked early

MANCHESTER UNITED all-but booked their spot in the Europa League final a week ago.

And, despite a brief first-half wobble, it was never really in doubt at Old Trafford on Thursday night as the Red Devils secured a comeback 4-1 win at home over Athletic Bilbao.

Mikel Jaureguizar sent a nervous shiver around the ground with his fine effort on the half-hour mark.

United struggled to click and no doubt some feared of an almighty collapse.

But, when Ruben Amorim turned to the bench, it made all the difference – as Amad Diallo, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount were all involved in Mount’s delightful equaliser.

Casemiro scored with a clever header and even Rasmus Hojlund got in on the act to tap in.

Then Mount finish the job in style with his long-range effort into an empty net. Smiles all round.

Now United have an all-English blockbuster with Spurs later this month to save their dreadful season.

Roll on, Bilbao…

Here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Jones rated Ruben Amorim’s men at Old Trafford…

Would Spurs say they have had the hardest draw? Probably not.

Bodo/Glimt are not a top team and none of their players are suddenly going to get bought this summer by top sides.

But that is the team that they were drawn against and they dealt with it.

What do you want them to do? They are where they are.

It is just opposition fans trying to spin the wheel, whether it is throwing knives at United or Spurs.

We are routinely mocked for saying we have the best league in the world, and two teams close to the relegation zone are breezing through Europe with barely a scratch.

Troy Deeney

Or Arsenal fans saying they are the best team ever after losing a Champions League semi-final.

Or even worse, Mikel Arteta claiming they have been the best team in Europe this year. How? How do these things correlate?

The reality is that United and Spurs are in a European final and whoever wins will technically have a better season than Arsenal have had, because they have actually won something.

Just worry about yourselves, your own team, your own club, and stop moaning.

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