TheTottenham Hotspur Stadium rocked with scenes of joy and jubilation on Wednesday night as Spurs fans wildly celebrated their team’s Europa League final triumph over Manchester Unitedin Bilbao.
The Premier League side, who held off the Red Devils after taking the lead through Brennan Johnson just before half time, finally called an end to their 17-year trophy drought – and fans back at home needed no second invitation to celebrate the remarkable feat.
As Ange Postecoglou‘s heroes broke out on to the pitch at the San Mames stadium, Spurs fans who were watching from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London did the same, invading the field in their droves to toast the club’s first honour since winning the League Cupback in 2008.
In addition to winning their first European trophy since 1984, Tottenham will now compete in next season’s Champions Leagueafter a disastrous Premier League campaign that sees them sit in 17th place heading into the final domestic weekend.
As as sea of white shirts descended on to the pitch in north London, several fans broke down in tears of joy while others wildly threw beer and items of clothing into the air.
The quality and overall spectacle of the Europa League final was heavily criticised by fans through the contest as both sides struggled to break the other down, but Tottenham fans will not mind in the slightest how they got their hands on the silverware.
Tottenham fans joyously celebrated Spurs’ Europa League triumph on Wednesday night
The north London club lifted the trophy after narrowly beating Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao
Fans watching the game from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium emotionally celebrated as their club’s 17-year trophy drought – and 40-year wait for a European honour – came to an end
Postecoglou’s side started on the back foot but found themselves ahead when a looping cross ricocheted off Luke Shaw’s shoulder and into the path of Johnson, who was able to tap in from close range.
As Manchester United pushed for an equaliser in the second half, Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven produced an acrobatic clearance off the line to deny Rasmus Hojlund, keeping Spurs’ slender lead intact.
After keeping the Red Devils at bay through a nervy last seven minutes of stoppage time, Tottenham players were finally able to celebrate as the final whistle blew, soaking up the joyous atmosphere ahead of lifting the trophy in Bilbao.
For those not fortunate enough to acquire tickets to watch the final at the San Mames stadium, the club opened its gates in north London for a live screening of the contest, erecting 10 large screens around the pitch.
An estimated 80,000 fans from both teams descended on the Basque city in what has been described as an ‘English invasion, with locals from Bilbao gobsmacked at the inebriated state of supporters ahead of kick off that resulted in vandalism, minor scuffles and widespread anti-social behaviour.
But for the thousands who remained in the English capital to watch the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, fans were able to purchase tickets at a cost of £10 for adults and £5 for anyone under the age of 18.
As the wild and chaotic celebrations broke out at full-time, with thousands of supporters leaping the barriers in an effort to get on to the pitch, a few could be seen standing atop the giant screens, surrounded by the legions of flag-waving fans below them.
The Spurs manager, who after Tottenham’s poor start in the Premier League defiantly urged that he always wins trophies during his second season, admitted that he understands how much it means to the fans to win a major honour.
A sea of white shirts climb the barriers and celebrate on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch
Supporters were able to purchase tickets at the north London venue at a cost of £10 for adults
Brennan Johnson (left) scored the only goal in Bilbao, bundling the ball past Andre Onana
Micky van de Ven’s acrobatic clearance helped Spurs keep a clean sheet in the second half
‘I am still trying to take it all in. I know what it means to the club and the longer it goes it is harder to break the cycle, I could sense nervousness at the club because they have been in the situation before,’ he told TNT Sports after the game.
‘We have a really young group but I hope them tasting this, it feeds into itself and they will feel differently about themselves.
‘I have always felt that knockout football is different from the league. We knew in the situation it came down to organisation and moments – if you can minimise the moments they have, with (Cristian) Romero and Van de Ven etc.
‘We felt we would be hard to break down. We could have been better in transition but I felt comfortable that if we went ahead we would negotiate it.’
Meanwhile, the mood was miserably bleak in Manchester United’s fan zones as supporters watched their team throw away a last chance to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Ruben Amorim’s side, who similarly to Spurs have endured a woeful Premier League campaign and sit 16th ahead of their last match of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday, will now not compete in any European competition next term.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane summed up the mood felt by Red Devils fans in Bilbao and back home as he furiously ripped into a dismal performance in the final.
‘Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Man United. It’s been the story all year,’ blasted Keane.
Tottenham’s stars embraced their manager Ange Postecoglou after he ended their trophy wait
Roy Keane ripped into Manchester United after their dismal defeat at the San Mames stadium
Manchester United’s players cut comparatively dejected figures as they collected their medals
‘They’ve been getting out of jail with European football and it’s been covering the huge cracks at Man United. All season they have been so easy to beat.
‘They got lucky a few times in Europe and then tonight again, ultimately it’s not good enough. They didn’t show enough quality. Not enough options off the bench.
‘If you’re depending on Harry Maguire to get you out of jail you’re in trouble.’