CNN
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Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday.
The victory secured its first Cup title in 17 years.
As Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio de San Mames appears to have abolished the reputation that the team didn’t finish a big game, the full-time whistle was equally filled with tears of joy from white-clad Tottenham fans.
It’s a big moment as the Spurs won the club’s first trophy since 2008 and the first continental silverware since the 1983-84 season. The North London Club has struggled to shake off its reputation for “almost good enough” over the past decade, celebrating its victory as if it were their first trophy in nearly 20 years.
The first half was sloppy and both teams were unable to control the game or create real goal chances. The Spurs attacked midfielder Brennan Johnson half later.
In the 42nd minute, Tottenham midfielder Pipe Sall whipped a cross on his right foot into the area.
A crude conversion from the Welsman sent Tottenham fans to Euphoria, with the red-wearing fans still sitting in front of half and feeling discouraged.
At least the highlights of the most athletic match came in the second half. United pushed the equalizer and Mickey Van de Bean flashed a glorious moment.
After a Manchester United free kick failed Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vialio, United’s Rasmus Hojlund snapped an uncontested header towards an unprotected goal.
Vicario then corrected Alejandro Garnacho with a nifty stretch save, then made an even better stop at Luke Show near the edge to keep him clean sheets and victory.
Champions League fame and money secured
By winning the competition, Tottenham will compete in the Champions League, the continent’s top club competition, despite how frightening the club’s recent domestic performances are.
The pair struggle so deeply in the Premier League that the two English teams experience an annoying, parallel world.
Tottenham placed 17th in the table and lost 21 times this season, but Manchester United came in first place at 16th, winning four league games since this year’s turn.
“I’m very happy right now. Honestly, this season hasn’t been good at all, but I swear that none of our players care about it,” Johnson told the TNT Sports 1 broadcast after the match when the Welsh flag was draped onto him.
“This is everything. The club hasn’t won the trophy in 17 years. Honestly, this makes sense. It makes sense. Every fan is abused.
This achievement was particularly sweet for Spurs Manager Ange Postecoglou, who has been widely criticized for his club’s Premier League performance this season. The Australian in his second season at the North London Club predicted the feat last year.
“I don’t usually win things… I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed,” he said confidently in September after losing to rival Arsenal.
In a previous outage, Postecoglou won the title and Cup in his second season.
“I think people misunderstood that. I wasn’t really bragging about it. It was my declaration and I believed it,” he said after beating United.
“I was still in the Carabao Cup when I said that. I just had this in me, more than anything, I know the shape of our league is terrible.
“I believed it in me, it was my ambition. I wanted to state it. The club is so close that no one could expect from the club to state it, but I was able to say it.
The title represents the historical achievements of his son Hyun Min. After the match, the Spurs pointed out that he was the first club captain from Korea and led his team to a major European trophy.
CNN’s Ben Church contributed to this report.