Fans of other 18 EPL clubs asked if want Spurs or Manchester United to win Europa League – Intriguing
Europa League Final: Spurs or Manchester United – Who Are Premier League Fans Backing?
As the Europa League final takes center stage tonight, a curious yet contentious question is making the rounds: If you had to choose, would you prefer Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United to lift the trophy?
This intriguing question has been posed to supporters of the other 18 Premier League clubs, with the poll conducted by The Athletic offering a fascinating glimpse into the tribal loyalties and long-standing rivalries that define English football fandom.
The Athletic’s Survey Findings – 21 May 2025
With two Premier League clubs squaring off in a European final—a relatively rare occurrence with this being just the sixth time—it was inevitable that fans across the country would have strong opinions. The Athletic tapped into these sentiments by polling fans from every Premier League club not involved in the final, asking them which side they would begrudgingly support if forced to choose.
The results were revealing, if not entirely surprising.
Overall, a significant 68.4% of fans from the other 18 clubs expressed a preference for a Tottenham victory. Spurs were the favored choice among supporters of 14 clubs, suggesting that despite their own unpopularity in some circles, they are still seen as the lesser evil compared to Manchester United.
Interestingly, only three fanbases opted to throw their support behind United: Arsenal, Chelsea, and West Ham. Given the fierce and historic rivalries within London, it’s perhaps no surprise that fans of these clubs would find it impossible to cheer for their North London rivals.
However, one fanbase managed to remain perfectly neutral—Brentford. Their poll response was split evenly between the two finalists, making them the only group to exhibit a diplomatic stance.
There were a few surprising details within the data. Nearly half (48.1%) of the Chelsea fans polled actually preferred Tottenham to win—a figure that’s higher than expected considering the traditional animosity between the two clubs. On the other end of the spectrum, not a single Everton supporter who participated in the poll was willing to root for Manchester United. The idea of United lifting the first trophy of the Amorim era was a step too far for Toffees fans.
The Real Question: Who Do You Want to Lose?
But perhaps the survey was framed the wrong way. The more accurate question might have been: Who do you want to see lose the Europa League final—Spurs or Manchester United? Because when it comes down to it, fans weren’t necessarily voting for who they wanted to win; they were voting for who they wanted to see humiliated.
Take Newcastle United fans, for instance. The poll shows that 93.1% of them “want Spurs to win”—but a more accurate interpretation might be that 93.1% simply want Manchester United to lose. That’s not a pro-Spurs sentiment, but an anti-United one.
After all, for most fans of other Premier League clubs, neither of these teams lifting a European trophy is a desirable outcome—especially when it comes with the added reward of Champions League qualification. The idea of either Manchester United or Tottenham gaining momentum and prestige is a bitter pill to swallow for rival supporters.
And yet, there’s still that 6.9% of Newcastle fans who would prefer to see Spurs lose, even if it means Manchester United winning. That small minority has shocked some in the Toon Army. For many, the disdain for United far outweighs any dislike for Spurs, making that 6.9% a puzzling outlier.
In Conclusion
Tonight’s Europa League final might feature only two teams on the pitch, but it’s clear that fans from all over England are emotionally invested—if only in wanting to see one of them fall short. The results of The Athletic’s poll not only offer insight into the complex web of rivalries in the Premier League but also reinforce a simple truth: in English football, sometimes it’s not about who you love, but who you hate less.