Spurs dealt major blow for Europa League final vs Man Utd and it could have huge impact on the game
Tottenham Hotspur’s preparations for their much-anticipated Europa League final showdown with Manchester United have taken another hit, with the North London side now facing a growing injury crisis just days before the decisive fixture.
The two Premier League giants are set to lock horns on May 21 in Bilbao, where the winner will not only lift the Europa League trophy but also secure a coveted spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League — a high-stakes prize for both clubs.
Unfortunately for Spurs, manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that attacking midfielder James Maddison and promising youngster Lucas Bergvall will be unavailable for the final. Both players have been ruled out through injury, dealing a major blow to Tottenham’s creative options in midfield.
Adding to Postecoglou’s concerns is the fitness of Swedish international Dejan Kulusevski. Speaking during a UEFA media day on Monday, May 12, the Spurs boss revealed that Kulusevski had suffered a knock to his knee during training, casting doubt over his availability for the final.
“We’ll see about his fitness,” Postecoglou said. “He was a bit sore this morning with his knee. It looks like a knock at this stage, but we’re going to let it settle for 24 hours and then assess it. The initial impression is that it’s more of a knock than anything more serious.”
However, the optimism surrounding Kulusevski’s condition has waned in the hours since. According to reports from the Manchester Evening News, sources close to the club have indicated that the winger’s chances of recovering in time for the final have “since reduced,” putting his participation in serious doubt.
Postecoglou also reflected on the timing of the injuries, saying, “We’ve obviously lost Madders and Bergvall in the last two weeks, so yesterday I only had three backup players available — and they were all scheduled to play 45 minutes. And of course, Sod’s law, one of them picks up a knock. Deki is important to us, but at this point, they’re all important. The frustrating part is that he was really starting to get into his rhythm again. You could sense he was back in form, and there were some really promising signs.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United have injury concerns of their own as they prepare for the trip to Spain. French defender Leny Yoro picked up a foot injury during their 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday. United head coach Ruben Amorim attempted to ease fears by stating the injury “could be a small thing,” but the 18-year-old’s availability remains uncertain.
Right-back Diogo Dalot is also in a race against time to be fit, having suffered a muscle injury during last month’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves. His recovery has been closely monitored, but there’s still a chance he could miss out on the final.
Adding to United’s defensive worries is centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, who has been sidelined with an ankle issue. However, there is more optimism regarding his recovery, with the Dutch international potentially returning to action in time for United’s upcoming Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday, May 16 — a fixture that could serve as a fitness test ahead of the Europa League final.
With both Tottenham and Manchester United juggling injury concerns and critical player absences, the Europa League final is shaping up to be not only a test of talent but also of squad depth and resilience. Both managers will be hoping their key players can recover in time, as the stakes could not be higher for two clubs hungry for silverware and Champions League qualification.