What a night in Bilbao! Tottenham Hotspur are Europa League champions after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United at San Mamés Stadium, securing their first major trophy in 17 years. Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal, aided by a deflection, proved the difference in a match defined by Tottenham’s defensive resilience and United’s missed opportunities. Let’s break down this historic final, analyze what it means for both clubs, and hear your thoughts on this dramatic clash!

In the 1980s and 1990s, Italian football was the heartbeat of the sport. Clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus weren’t just giants in Italy—they were the kings of world football. Serie A was the most-watched league globally, with the highest average attendance in Europe—stadiums packed with passionate fans chanting for their heroes. From 1982 to 1998, 13 of 17 Ballon d’Or winners played in Italy, legends like Marco van Basten and Roberto Baggio lighting up the pitch

They carried a 1-0 lead from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Didier Drogba’s goal, but few believed they could survive the Camp Nou cauldron. Three years earlier, in 2009, Chelsea had been robbed by referee Tom Henning Øvrebø’s decisions in a semi-final loss to Barcelona, fueling a thirst for revenge. This was more than a match—it was a chance to right a wrong, witnessed by a roaring crowd hungry for Barcelona’s triumph

Xabi Alonso revolutionized football at Bayer Leverkusen, leading an unbeaten Bundesliga season with a fluid 3-2-4-1, blending Pep Guardiola’s positional play with Roberto De Zerbi’s relationalism. His tactics—circular rotations, asymmetric overloads, and lethal counterattacks made Leverkusen unpredictable, a blueprint he now brings to the Bernabéu

Trent’s weaknesses are known, but so are his superpowers. Real Madrid doesn’t need perfect defenders; they need players who change games. Marcelo, another flawed defender, became a legend because his offensive impact outweighed his flaws. Trent’s high-risk, high-reward style is built for drama. With a composed trio at the back, support from Valverde and Tchouameni, and Alonso’s proactive management, he could flourish. And when Real wins late, and Trent’s corner finds Mbappé for the winner—those Anfield boos may just echo with envy.