Lots of statistical funto be had with tonight’s final, and The Knowledge this week has gone in hard on them, asking whether tonight’s match features the worst aggregate domestic league positions of any European finalists. Relive the 1988 Uefa Cup final and more here:
All of which should get you in shape for our English Euro-finallists quiz. I got only eight and am having stern words with myself right now:
To parade or not to parade?While Liverpool prepares to welcome up to a million people on to its streets this weekend for their Premier League title festivities, Gary Neville reckons Manchester United shouldn’t do anything similar if they win tonight, as PA Media reports.
“If Manchester United win, they’ll celebrate a trophy but there will be a cautious celebration tomorrow – not by the fans, though, because they’ll obviously go crazy. Their interviews will be along the lines of them saying that they’re so happy and delighted for the fans, but it’s been a difficult season,” sniffed the former United full-back. “That will be the tone of it. I don’t think there should be a parade through the city for them winning theEuropa League.”
Whatever happened to old-school cup final records?Well, Spurs have one, To Dare is to Do, written by Oscar-winning singer songwriters an producers Jimmy Napes and Paul Epworth. More a gentle swayalong number than a raucous terrace chant but a reasonable equivalent to Arsenal’s North London Forever. And proceeds all go toNoah’s Ark Hospicein Barnet.
Guardiola threatens to quit over squad size:An interesting line from Pep Guardiola’s post-match presser last night, the Manchester City manager threatening to quit unless his squad’s size isreduced. Guardiola feels it’s unfair on those members of his squad denied sufficient game time. Guess he’ll never get the Chelsea gig then. Whether he’ll still say that in the midst of a mid-November injury crisis and lean run, well we’ll see.
Morning everyone and happyEuropa Leaguefinal day, whether you’re reading this on the sly at work or on a park bench in Bilbao. There’s a curious air of anticipation around this evening’s final – on the one hand it’s an absurdity, two dismal English top-flight sides flaunting the Premier League’s wealth on Basque Country streets, a damning indictment of European football’s dysfunctional, lopsided finances. Scores of much better run clubs across the continent will be looking on enviously, and perhaps bitterly.
On the other hand, cup football … isn’t it. The very randomness of teams being mostly rubbish except in one competition is part of the allure of knockout football, and it’s notable that almost everything good about this season has come in eliminator rounds, from a revitalised English FA Cup to the Inter-Barça blockbuster the other week. So let’s drink it in, as those carousing on the streets of Bilbao will be – with or without hotel rooms.
We’ll be counting down the hours to kick-off with all the latest news and buildup, as well as looking back on last night’s semi-meaningful but very emotional Premier League action, as Palace fansgreeted the FA Cup for the first time and Manchester City’s home crowdserenaded Kevin De Bruynefor the last time.
In the meantime, make yourself a brew and get stuck into Jonathan Wilson’s big-match preview, David Hytner on Big Ange’s likely Spurs exit regardless, and Daniel Harris’s look at Ruben Amorim’s necessary emotional intelligence: