There had been so much anticipation and build up to the Europa League final, an all-English clash between Man United and Tottenham in the days ahead of the game.
Yet once the first whistle actually went, there seemed to be a distinct lack of quality from both sides, with football fans and pundits alike wasting no time noting how underwhelming the game was.
Tottenham, arguably the underdog in this game of no favourites, scored the winner in scruffy fashion through Brennan Johnson, though neither side created many clear-cut chances throughout the match.
Spurs qualified for next season’s Champions League by edging the game, which Piers Morgan noted in his scathing criticism.
‘This must be the worst quality game in the history of European football competition finals,’ Morgan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
‘Absolutely shocking – and yet one of these useless bunch of wastrels will be in next year’s Champions League…’
Tottenham took on Man United in an underwhelming Europa League final on Wednesday
Piers Morgan branded the two English sides a ‘useless bunch of wastrels’ on social media
Prior to the game Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger had insinuated that it was perhaps not right that one of United or Spurs – who are 16th and 17th in the Premier League as it stands – should play in the Champions League last term.
Yet after taking the lead Tottenham gave themselves a fantastic chance of doing just that – though the game was still hardly a classic.
Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England striker Michael Owen was also far from impressed by the spectacle, and picked out the lack of fluidity to either side’s play.
‘Can’t believe how bad the standard of this match is,’ wrote the former Ballon d’Or winner.
‘Neither team can string 3 passes together.’
But the ex-Liverpool and Man United star wasn’t the only one left feeling a little undersold on the game after all the anticipation in the build-up.
‘I have no clue why I expected this game to be pure cinema, this is the worst game of football I’ve ever seen,’ wrote one fan.
‘I know the rest of Europe that don’t follow the Premier League must be confused at the quality of this game. These are two of the worst teams our league has to offer,’ pointed out another.
Brennan Johnson scored the all-important goal to end Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought
But a third was clearly hurt by the lack of quality on show, comparing it to something widely held in popular culture to be the ultimate letdown.
‘Worst final since Game of Thrones,’ they blasted.
Spurs ultimately held onto their slender advantage following Wales international Johnson’s decisive touch, and will now be in the Champions League, while United will have to settle for no European football at all.
It is a huge blow for Ruben Amorim’s side who will also miss out on the prize money associated with reaching club football’s biggest competition, which naturally further hampers their summer plans to rebuild the side.
