Image source, Getty Images

If Athletic Bilbao are to overcome Manchester United across the two legs they will be playing on home soil for the final.

The Europa League final takes place at Bilbao's San Mames Stadium on 21 May 2025.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

We are getting plenty of messages in on this subject, with readers bringing some valid points.

I have also heard it mooted that the winners of the FA Cup should be rewarded with the extra Champions League place, rather than it going to the side that finishes fifth in the Premier League.

The question boils down to this - should winning a competition be held in higher or lower esteem than a team's league placing?

Which is harder to achieve and which should be most celebrated?

Of course, there really is no right or wrong answer here, but it's interesting to see where people stand on this.

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison was the player who spoke to the media in yesterday's news conference and he said the team are 100% behind manager Ange Postecoglou.

Maddison said they can 'still have a special season under his management'.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Ange Postecoglou and James Maddison were both very strong on this point in their news conferences.

The argument was that the Europa League, and the potential to get to a European final and win silverware, should be viewed in isolation.

Maddison added that most players could go their whole career without playing in or even getting close to a European final.

Spurs were the first British club to win a major European competition, with the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963, and won the inaugural Uefa Cup - the forerunner to the Europa League - in 1972.

They won the Uefa Cup again in 1984 but have not won a European trophy since then.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, said people are "almost trying to diminish" their run in the Europa League this season. He said if they were "flying in the league it wouldn't make this opportunity any different".

"I am really strong at the moment on the parallel worlds we are trying to traverse and I have sensed, which is not surprising because this is the way this club is perceived, people are almost trying to diminish it in some respects," said Postecoglou.

"I have seen some people saying it is the equivalent of Man Utd winning the FA Cup, no. Not on any planet is it equivalent. That is suggesting that maybe we are not worthy of Champions League.

"Things are there that are designed to diminish what is ahead of us, which is an unbelievable opportunity. Irrespective of how this season has gone, we have generations of fans who want this more than anything else - to share this with the people that they love, a special moment supporting their football club.

"We could be flying in the league, but it wouldn't make this opportunity any different. The opportunity is the same and I have made that clear to the players."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim suggested in his pre-match news conference that the club would be fine with or without Champions League football next season.

But you would imagine the powers-that-be would prefer it if they qualified by winning the Europa League.

Amorim conceded that nothing will "save" their season, but winning the Europa League can be huge.

He was also asked if the players will be able to deal with the pressure and said: "They are prepared. Every player is an international but the context in this season was complicated in every aspect. I don't see that as an issue.

"They are excited to be here, they want to win and they are capable of winning.

"It could change our summer, it could change the next year, but we want to improve the club. It is not the most important thing in our club. We have to deal with a lot of things in our club and we will be fine, with Champions League or without ."

Image source, Getty Images

Remember, the winners of the Europa League will earn a place in next season's Champions League.

Do you agree with that?

Click thumbs up for yes or thumbs down for no.

With Manchester United and Tottenham both likely to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League, and thus unable to qualify for European competition via their league placing, there have been suggestions that they do not deserve a place in Europe's top-tier competition.

Please get in touch with your thoughts on the subject using the contact details above.

Europa League

A huge night ahead for Manchester United and Tottenham in their respective Europa League semi-final first legs:

• Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United
• Tottenham v Bodo/Glimt

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

We are going to switch from the Premier League now, but fans of Wolves can get the latest quotes from Vitor Pereira when we get them on our dedicated club page.

Right, back to Europe and the Europa League semi-finals...

Manchester City

For those that missed it, here are the top lines from Pep Guardiola's news conference, in preview of Friday's Premier League game at home to Wolves:

• Guardiola said it was unlikely that top scorer Erling Haaland would be involved on Friday evening as he continues to recover from injury.
• He claimed if he could help, he would, with regard to fans' frustrations on ticket price increases.
• The City boss spoke at length about Rodri's comeback from injury but refused to specify a return date.
• His short quippy answer to a journalist's ultimatum.
• Guardiola deflected a question about Lamine Yamal, but gave a detailed answer on the Champions League semi-finalists.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

So that's all from the Manchester City manager.

Another masterful display from Pep Guardiola, who is schooled in the art of deflection.

Can we read anything into his refusal to give anything away about Rodri and Erling Haaland's availability.

Probably not...but you never know.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was asked about the performance of Lamine Yamal on Wednesday evening but chose to simply give his thoughts on the semi-finals themselves: "I was surprised how nice the game was. Thanks to these type of games, the stadiums will never, ever be empty and our business will grow. I can be grateful for the two semi-finals because both were unbelievable, especially Wednesday's game.

"When you play like Barcelona play, the stadiums will never be empty and we can live in that business for a long time. It doesn't matter about results but how proud the people who love Barcelona we are.

"And Inter Milan proved again how when we won the Champions League against them - how incredible they are at defending in the transitions. Simone Inzaghi is an unbelievable manager.

"Next Tuesday and Wednesday will be incredible. They are a fantastic four teams and they deserve to be there."

Image source, Getty Images

Four finals, said Pep, plus an actual final.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was asked what he would choose, if he had to, between third place and winning the FA Cup: "Wolves."

On whether the lack of relegation threat to Wolves makes this game less tricky: "No, I'm pretty sure the Wolves players prefer to come here to this stadium already safe. A month ago they were in a difficult position. I would prefer."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Here's Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on Rodri stepping up his return from injury: "We are really pleased that Erling is back and that Rodri is back in the training sessions. The moment the official doctor says Rodri can start to play minutes - after that he will start to play minutes, but the doctors have to tell me.

"It was a difficult injury. It was an injury seven to 11 months, the doctor said. Every day Rodri is making more sessions but we have to wait so he doesn't make a step backwards and get injured again so we have to be careful.

"Every training session he feels better and when the doctor says Rodri is stable and can start to play - after that he is going to come back."

On whether he will play again this season: "I don't know. The doctor will tell me."

On his gut feeling: "I don't know. I'm not a doctor."

On if he would like to see him this season: "The most important thing is Wolves. I have to select the best players to play against Wolves. This is the only concern I have. When the doctor tells me he can do it, I will start to think about it."

Image source, Getty Images