Glenn Hoddle admits ‘slight issue’ for Tottenham after reaching Europa League final
Ange Postecoglou’s men have defied all odds to set up a Europa League final showdown against Manchester United.
Tottenham’s mature 2-0 victory against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday (8 May) ensured they get a shot to win the club’s first European trophy since their UEFA Cup victory in 1984.
Ange Postecoglou has been under intense scrutiny since the turn of the year, however, he has a chance to make good on his promise to deliver silverware at the club in his second season in charge.
Standing in their way are Manchester United, who have had a similarly challenging domestic campaign but have far more pedigree in both European and domestic cup competitions.
Hoddle worried about Tottenham’s record against United
Glenn Hoddle was full of admiration for his former club, praising the team’s application and approach in dealing with the unique challenge Bodo posed live on air on TNT Sports.
He was nonetheless wary of the different challenge that the Red Devils will pose, particularly given that they will be seeking revenge for previous encounters this season.
| Date | Competition | Result |
| 17 February 2025 | Premier League (H) | 1-0 W |
| 19 December 2024 | EFL Cup (H) | 4-3 W |
| 29 September 2024 | Premier League (A) | 3-0 W |
Hoddle commented on the Lilywhites’ 100 per cent record this season, claiming “That’s a slight problem for me actually … to beat a team four times in one season from the Premier League is really tough, it really is!”
He tempered his statement with a more positive outlook moments later, saying, “It’s a one-off game and Spurs, when they are on their game, when they defend properly, they are a match for anyone and they’ve proved that with some of the performances they’ve put in this year.”
The final, which will be held at the Estadio de San Mamés in Bilbao (21 May), will be only the sixth time a European trophy will be contested by two English teams, with three of them now involving Tottenham.
Manchester United there for the taking
Postecoglou is one game away from glory and has done an excellent job at adapting to the challenges of European knockout football despite abject league form.
In United they face a different calibre of opponent, one that can match them in both physicality and technical proficiency.
Nonetheless, they have been similarly brittle in the league, and previous encounters show that they are vulnerable to the way Spurs play.
Postcoglou is unlikely to deviate too far from his principles, but if they can produce the type of pragmatic performance they have displayed across the continent, then they have a great chance at an unlikely grandstand finish to the season.