Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur are bidding for a fourth straight victory over Manchester United this season when they meet in the Europa League final. But does that record count for anything in a one-off game?

Former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown believes it does but tells The Football News Show why United's record in big games counts in their favour too.

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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The big question for Ange Postecoglou tonight is whether he gives captain Son Heung-min a start despite his lack of fitness.

The Korean has only just returned from injury but on the biggest night of the club's season you'd imagine Postecoglou would be tempted to select Son, who is one of his genuine match-winners.

Without the creativity of James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski - Son's attacking spark could be crucial for Spurs tonight if selected.

Additionally, having Richarlison to cause havoc off the bench could also influence Postecoglou's decision. It is a dilemma that will be Postecoglou's biggest selection call ahead of tonight's clash, with Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson expected to play in attack.

In Maddison and Bergvall's absence - Pape Matar Sarr is available after coming off against Aston Villa. Sarr will be hoping for the nod alongside Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur in the middle of the park.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United need this trophy win to ensure they have financial stability going into the summer.

They have a lot of big plans. They want to sign a lot of players, including attacking players which are expensive to obtain.

Getting into the Champions League next season would certainly help that, and give them that financial firepower to go and execute the deals that they want to execute.

The club are also in the process of a redundancy scheme. It is a shame because people are losing their jobs - and no one at Manchester United wants that to happen.

To have this financial boost, an estimated £100m if they qualify for the Champions League, would be significant for them.

In terms of Tottenham, we all know about their trophy drought - 2008 was the last time they lifted a trophy. They want this so badly. The fans want this so badly.

The major issue is Ange Postecoglou's future. Whether Wednesday's outcome has any baring on his future remains to be seen. I think the direction of travel is that he will probably leave the club, regardless of the result.

The euphoria of victory could change things - but that's the jeopardy we have got here.

If Postecoglou does leave Tottenham this summer with that European trophy in his belt, that would help him get another top job in European football.

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The previous head-to-heads between Manchester United and Tottenham no longer matter.

Maybe, Spurs can take some confidence in the previous results but they have not played them in a cup final before.

There is a trophy on the line this time so all of the previous history is neutralised and it becomes a one-off, showpiece, game.

Both teams in the Premier League have struggled to manage games but in Europe it has been slightly different. We will see two domestic sides meet in a European setting, but what we can expect from that, I am not actually too sure.

Neither side are in a position where you can see them controlling the game for long periods of time, so that may lead to some nervousness around making a mistake which could cost them the game.

I expect it to be quite a tight game and come down to who can have the big moments and take them.

We saw it at the weekend in the FA Cup final, Crystal Palace had that moment and Eberechi Eze took it, and then they made good blocks and had a penalty saved.

That is probably what this Europa League final is going to come down to.

You could talk yourself into backing either Tottenham or Manchester United but neither team have impressed enough for you to fully commit to knowing they will do well.

It will come down to those gritty moments and taking those chances when you get them.

This is not just an average game, it is a final and a defining moment in the season. It is not about style and formation. This is simply about winning.

You don't remember how someone played in the final but you do remember who lifted the trophy.

And given how this season has gone for both sides, it literally is make or break.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson tells The Football News Show why losing to Manchester United in the Europa League final would hit Spurs harder, and why they should not let the result change their decision on Ange Postecoglou's future.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Tottenham Hotspur will be without James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski for the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show why their absence will be so keenly felt and why United captain Bruno Fernandes holds the key to the midfield battle in Bilbao.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Tottenham fans have officially taken over the streets of Bilbao before Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United at San Mames Stadium.

The sun is shining, the supporters are gathering and the anticipation is building.

We know plenty of you have had to get a bit inventive with your travel to the Spanish city - whether that be a 33-hour ferry, a 13-hour coach ride, flying via Dublin, Paris and Rome, or driving the whole distance - but it looks like most of you have reached your final destination now.

So let's have a look at the current scenes in Bilbao...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

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Have you spotted yourself in any of these pictures? If so, let us know.

If you have any pictures from sunny Bilbao or you would like to share any stories from your trip, send in your messages and pictures here.

Follow all the build-up and vote on who will win on our live page

One game stands between Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United salvaging a trophy and Champions League football from an otherwise disastrous season.

There is a lot on the line for both clubs and it will be a nervous watch for fans in the stadium in Bilbao and elsewhere.

With the countdown to kick-off underway, we asked our fan contributors from both clubs why their team will win the Europa League and what it will mean if they don't.

This is what our Tottenham supporter Anna Howells from Spurs XY, external had to say...

And this the view of Dale O'Donnell from United In Focus, external...

Manchester United are winless in their last six meetings with Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions (D2 L4). United have never gone seven without a win against Spurs before, and have also never lost four successive matches against them.

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Seeing teams ending trophy droughts will give Tottenham "belief" that they can break their's when they face Manchester United in the Europa League final, says former winger Andros Townsend.

It has been 17-years since Spurs last won a trophy - the League Cup in 2008 - and 41 since they lifted European Silverware.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Townsend said: "There will be a belief. I think they will be saying 'if those guys [Crystal Palace and Newcastle] can do it, then why can't we do it?'.

"You look at Bologna in Italy and Go Ahead Eagles [in Netherlands], they have broken droughts as well, so all these things will give those players belief that they it can be their day and will be their day.

"The three games they have already played against United [can also give confidence]. How well they played in those games and how they controlled those games - especially in the last game at Spurs. For the first half they were all over United, United couldn't get five passes together, they absolutely dominated them. So I'm sure they will be watching those clips again and identifying where they can win the game.

"They will be going into this game with massive confidence."

However, Townsend also feels the final could also force Spurs to move away from their usual style.

"Postecoglou will set them up in the same way to be font-foot aggressive and high line. But, sometimes the game and occasion forces you into a lower block," he added.

"Frankfurt, the Europa League game, that was the first time I have seen Spurs abandon this high-line, abandon the passing and abandon the high press. They were flat out, Antonio Conte [style] low-block, let's not concede. I don't think that was Ange, I think that was the players thinking 'this is a massive game, this is our season right here, I can't be the one to make a mistake' and slowly, slowly everyone just retreats.

"I fear that might be the case [on Wednesday]. The weight of the occasion may play on the Spurs players' minds and and these players individually will not want to make the mistake and so it forces them into something they are not used to."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou confirmed the squad is "pretty much the same as last week" as Lucas Bergvall will not be available.

• The Spurs boss said it is a "big game" on Wednesday and his 100th game in charge provides the opportunity to "fulfil at least the main task I was given [when I arrived] which was to bring trophies to the club".

• On whether winning the trophy or Champions League qualification was more important, he added: "It is a great prize. You know the significance of Champions League qualification and what comes with it. You get to play against the best on the continent. But the club has been in the Champions League before, they have not won a trophy for a long time - so that is the most important thing."

• Postecoglou said "irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be" in response to a question from a journalist who had recently written an article about the Spurs boss: "You really disappointed me that you used such terminology to describe a person that for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, has worked his way to a position where he is leading out a club in a European final."

• On talk around this being his penultimate game in charge: "It doesn't matter really. The reality of it is, the opportunity is the same. For me and more importantly for the club. Whatever happens beyond tomorrow is irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now and that is to provide something special for this football club, its supporters and everyone that has worked so hard for a trophy."

• He added: "If I was worried about my tenure at this football club, it's fair to say we wouldn't be in this position because I would have been distracted long ago. I'm pretty good at ensuring my focus is on giving this football club its best opportunity that it has had for a while to do something special. Whatever happens after that, I'm very comfortable that I will continue trying to win trophies wherever I am."

• It is a "a big motivation and driver" for himself and the team to win the trophy for captain Son Heung-Min: "He is so important to the group. He is so important as a leader and he is such an important figure at this football club. It would be great to cap that [career] off with a trophy for him."

• Postecoglou told reporters "don't stress" about what happens to him as his "future is assured". He added: "I have a beautiful family, got a great life, I will keep on winning trophies until I finish - wherever that is."

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur winger Son Heung-min spoke to the media before tomorrow's Europa League final against Manchester United.

Son spoke about his return from injury and his fitness level: "I am ready and obviously back from injury. It was my first game against Crystal Palace and afterwards I played against Villa. I didn't expect to play that long but I managed to play. Physically, I am ready to go and also the boys are ready to go for the biggest game of the season."

The Tottenham captain also spoke about using the 2019 Champions League final loss alongside another player who featured: "Ben Davies is here. Let's not forget about his commitment and work rate. It's going to be a huge moment for both of us and also for the boys if we win. As we always say, the first step is going to be really the hardest. If we win that trophy, we can change the mentality and we can change the history and hopefully we can continue to compete for other trophies."

Son was also asked if former Tottenham talisman Harry Kane had got in touch with him ahead of tomorrow's game: "Everyone knows Harry is my best mate and it was a huge honour of playing alongside him. After he won his first title, we had a chat about his trophy. He is already on holiday so he doesn't have to text me. I am just concentrating myself with the boys and I'm sure Harry will be the biggest Spurs fan tomorrow and supporting us from his holidays."

Finally, the South Korea captain also indulged on his contract but reiterated that the focus is on winning tomorrow: "We never know about the future, we might play in the Champions League next year, we might play in the final. The chance that I have now is real, tomorrow is the final. I am just not thinking about anything else, this could be my last chance or another chance. I just want to concentrate on tomorrow, winning and lift the trophy with the boys and celebrate together."

We asked you to tell us how you're travelling to Bilbao for Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United.

The head of UK football policing, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, told BBC Sport that between 50,000 to 80,000 could be travelling to the Spanish city for the showpiece.

Here are some of your replies:

Nathan: We're flying out tomorrow morning from Bournemouth to Carcassonne, then driving to Irun, where our hotel is. Then we move on to Bilbao from there. Hoping to be in Bilbao by 15:00-16:00.

Tristen: 07:15 flight tomorrow morning, then a 16:00 flight back on Thursday. No accommodation booked or I guess even needed - bars and clubs after the game till the early hours celebrating our win, then a coffee shop to wake myself up and sit in the sun till our flight home. With my daughter, Darcey.