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Manchester United meet Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final on Wednesday night and given the form of the two Premier League giants this campaign it’s less a clash of the titans and more a meeting of two Titanics.
Both sides have had complete shipwrecks of seasons and are vying for redemption as much as a trophy, the additional funds of Champions League qualification as much as the kudos of being in that competition.
Context aside, it promises to be a fascinating match with both teams claiming relevant off-field bragging rights of different kinds.
United, against all the odds, are entirely unbeaten in the Europa League despite their woeful domestic form.
Spurs, meanwhile, have beaten the Red Devils on all three meetings this season – twice in the league, and in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
In truth, as soon as the whistle blows in Bilbao everything else goes out of the window and it’s down to the players on the pitch and the men in the dugout to find what would be the biggest win of the season.
Ruben Amorim has a selection headache ahead of the clash; here’s my tuppence worth on the team he should pick.
Andre Onana
More than almost any of his under-performing team-mates the Cameroonian shotstopper has had a miserable season, with a string of high-profile errors costing points and turning hairs grey.
Not without good reason, but these mistakes overshadow some vital saves which have equally rescued and won United some points here and there, and for all his shortcomings Onana is fundamentally a better man to have between the sticks for a final than Altay Bayindir.
Harry Maguire
If United are to walk away with the Europa League trophy on Wednesday night an honourable mention has to go to Harry Maguire, whose late headers have been amongst the most memorable moments of this most ridiculous of paths to the final.
After knuckling down and working hard the Englishman deserves his place in the back three and, perish the thought, at centre-forward if United are in a tight corner at the death.
Leny Yoro
To his left, the Red Devils’ Rolls Royce Leny Yoro has to start, fitness permitting. The youngster has grown into himself and into the role over the course of his first season at Old Trafford and looks solid at the back as well as a genuine threat in the middle third with good passing range and the confidence to carry the ball forward.
Should the Frenchman not be fit enough to feature then Victor Lindelof is the best option to replace him, with Luke Shaw looking unreliable since returning to the pitch.
Noussair Mazraoui
On the other side of the back three is another successful summer arrival in Noussair Mazraoui, who has pivoted from right-back to right-centre-back excellently. With good feet in tight spaces he is a press-resistant asset who could be key in containing an energetic Spurs attack.
Amad
The first of Amorim’s big calls is to be made at right wing-back in the absence of Diogo Dalot, and it’s a signal of intent for how his side will approach the game. Amad is arguably United’s most compelling attacking force, and while his forward-thinking flair may be slightly curtailed with a deeper role he is a capable wing-back who has impressed there before.
With Mazraoui inside him he should have decent cover at the back, and having him free to overlap and cut back is exciting for the Red Devils.
Patrick Dorgu
On the other flank, Patrick Dorgu is almost certain to start – it’s a high-pressure match for the youngster, who is still very raw, but his physicality causes problems and he is willing to get stuck in at both ends of the pitch.
There’s a slight risk of the occasion overwhelming him and resulting in an early rash challenge, but he deserves his place and can be a huge asset.
Casemiro
Casemiro may just be the most important man on the pitch in Bilbao. His resurgence in form has been a huge benefit to an ailing United side, even if it has been slightly overstated, but the Brazilian’s experience of winning huge games and collecting silverware is unmatched in either squad.
If anyone out there knows what it takes to win it’s him and he should be a formidable force in mindset alone, dragging his side to the finish line in any way that he can.
In many ways it’s unfortunate that United face Premier League opposition, as the 32-year-old has at times struggled with the hectic pace of that league in comparison to the more continental approach favoured by past Europa League opposition.
Manuel Ugarte
Partnering him is Manuel Ugarte, who is also already a candidate to be replaced by Mason Mount. The Uruguayan is a true terrier and won’t give Spurs a moment’s peace but he is something of a Jekyll and Hyde figure, assured one moment and completely at sea the next, especially with his distribution. Also likely to suffer against an English side, but if he turns up properly will have a big part to play.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has been imperious all season and if anyone in red deserves to lift a trophy it’s him. No explanation needed as to why United’s captain makes the grade – he could win the thing on his own.
Alejandro Garnacho
On the other side I’ve gone for Alejandro Garnacho who for all his wasteful finishing and unsuccessful duels remains a potentially lethal attacking threat and is often the catalyst for positive United moments.
Expect him to miss a sitter, then sprinkle some stardust to make up for it. A candidate to play the role of super-sub and terrorise tired legs, but gets the nod because of what he can pull out of the bag on special occasions.
Rasmus Hojlund
Enough has been written and said about United’s beleaguered number 9 to destroy the poor lad, and the fact that he is the only centre-forward available to Amorim makes him an automatic pick.
The Europa League final is no time for experimentation and it’s the competition in which he has found a degree of form so he gets the nod over using someone like Kobbie Mainoo as a false 9. We have to hope his poor performances will fire him up not weigh him down, and if he’s on his way out of Old Trafford what a swansong it would be to star in a trophy win.
Featured image Michael Steele via Getty Images
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