Fifth from the bottom VS sixth from the bottom! Europa League final, Premier League "latecomer" derby

The reporter reported coldly Manchester United won 4-1 at home, eliminated Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate to advance to the Europa League final, and Tottenham also defeated Norwegian dark horse Bode 2-0 away in the Arctic Circle, and defeated the opponent 5-1 over two legs to reach the final - this is the 14th English civil war in the history of the Faircup/UEFA Cup/Europa League final, the third final, and the fifth English civil war in the history of the three major European cup finals. The two "latecomers" who are at the bottom of the Premier League not only won the chance to fight for the final title of the season and next season's Champions League places, but also won the sixth Champions League place for the Premier League next season, setting a record for the number of teams participating in the Champions League in a single league season.

Athletic Bilbao, which lacked four main players, scored first in the 31st minute, and in the second half it was reversed by Manchester United, who was fighting at home and had a three-goal advantage, relying on Mount's brace and Casemiro, Hojlen scored four goals in a row, Manchester United beat the opponent 7-1 on aggregate over two legs, and could only watch Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur compete for the trophy at their home stadium of San Mames.

Tottenham, who have completely abandoned the league like Manchester United, despite the injuries of central defender Dragusin, midfielder Maddison and winger Son Heung-min, still ended Bodø's five-game winning streak at home in the Europa League this season away in the Arctic Circle. Postecoglou's departure is almost a foregone conclusion, but a Europa League trophy is still expected to be the best farewell gift.

With the restructuring of the three major European Cups this season, the Champions League has been expanded and changed to the Swiss round system, and there are no Champions League teams in the knockout rounds of the Europa League. Following last year's Europa League draw, Tottenham and Manchester United were the top two favourites. After the draw for the 1/8 finals in February this year, the two teams are still the favorites to win the championship. In the end, they also got their wish to meet in the finals.

Manchester United reached the Europa League final with an unbeaten record of 14 games, nine wins and five draws, and are the seventh team to reach the final of the Europa League unbeaten after the restructuring in 2009. The last English side to reach the Europa League final unbeaten was Chelsea in 2018/19, and the Europa League final was also an English civil war, with Chelsea beating Arsenal 4-1 to win the title. This is the ninth time in the club's history that the Reds have reached the final of the three major European Cups, having won the previous five, including the 2007/08 Champions League final, when the Reds beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow.

After Thomas Tuchel led Chelsea to the Champions League final in 2020/21, Amorim is the first coach to reach the finals of all three major European Cups in his first season in charge of an English club. Since the 1997/98 UEFA Cup/Europa League final was switched to a single-knockout match, England have reached seven finals and won four times. As early as the 1963/64 European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals, Manchester United had already met Tottenham. At that time, Manchester United won 0-2 away, 4-1 at home, and 4-3 on aggregate. Manchester United beat Ajax to win the title eight years ago, and this time, it is only natural that Red Devils fans will want to relive their old dreams.

It was the sixth time in Tottenham's history that they had reached the final of the three major European Cups, having won the previous three, including the 1971/72 League Cup final in England, when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate over two legs. However, in the 2018/19 Champions League final, Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-0 to Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. This season's Europa League final was in Spain (Bilbao's San Mamés) and there was no psychological advantage for Tottenham.

After the final opponent was announced, despite being "three kills" by Tottenham this season, the odds of Manchester United, who are in better form to win the title (1.72), are still slightly higher than Tottenham (2.10). After all, both on paper and in the final, Manchester United are superior. Tottenham last won the 2007/08 English League Cup, and have lost all four cup finals in 17 years. United reached 23 cup finals and won 15 times during the same period.

However, Manchester United (15th in the Premier League) and Tottenham Hotspur (16th in the Premier League) also set the record for the worst league position for each team in the International Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup/Europa League final – there has never been a situation where both sides have finished outside the top 10 in their respective leagues, although Manchester United and Tottenham have room to move up the table before the final to avoid becoming the worst-ranked champions of the competition.

The previous worst record was Inter Milan (13th) in 1993/94, Schalke 04 in 1996/97 and Arsenal (12th) in the 1969/70 International Fairs Cup. Tottenham Hotspur in 1971/72 and Manchester United in 2016/17 won the title in sixth place in the domestic league.

It is worth mentioning that the Champions League, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the new UEFA Europa League with the worst league ranking in history are also from England. The Champions League is Aston Villa (1981/82, 11th), the Cup Winners' Cup is Manchester City (1969/70, 10th) and the UEFA Cup is West Ham United (2022/23, 14th).

In addition, Chelsea beat Sweden's Jürgarden to reach the final of the UEFA Europa League, reaching the final of the three major European Cups for the first time in four years, where they will face Betis led by Isco and Antony. Blues boss Maresca, like Thomas Tuchel four years ago, won the 'European title' in his first season in charge. Chelsea have previously completed the old 'three major European Cups' Grand Slam in the Champions League, Europa League and Cup Winners' Cup, and this time they will be the first team to complete the new Grand Slam of the 'Three European Cups' by beating Real Betis.