UNDER-FIRE Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou are on course for a winner-takes-all Europa League final showdown.
Amorim masterminded Manchester United’s 3-0 semi-final first leg demolition of ten-man Athletic Bilbao in Spain.
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And Postecoglou guided his Tottenham team to a 3-1 triumph over Bodo/Glimt in the other to set up a likely all-English final in Bilbao on May 21.
United hero Harry Maguire said: “It’s a great result, three goals and a clean sheet. Everyone will expect us to go through. We have one foot in the final but it’s still not done.
“We will be ready for the return at Old Trafford next Thursday.
“We looked a little nervous in the first 20 minutes, but we were clinical in that first half.
“We also had chances to get the fourth but it’s a great victory in the end.”
United legend Rio Ferdinand added: “It’s a dream scenario, a mature performance. But it was through sheer hard work and capitalising on mistakes and the red card.”
And fellow former Red Devil Paul Scholes beamed: “Amazing result. The sending off aided the picture. We all thought it would be a really tough game, but it was comfortable against 10 men.”
United and Spurs have both suffered a disastrous domestic season, languishing 14th and 16th respectively in the Prem.
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But victory in the Europa final will guarantee the winners Champions League football and a possible £100million windfall.
Casemiro headed United in front after centre-half Harry Maguire turned into a wonder WINGER to provide the cross.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes then put United 2-0 up from the spot after ref Espen Eskås awarded a penalty.
The Norwegian official also showed Dani Vivian a straight red card following a VAR review after Rasmus Hojlund had been hauled back in the box.
Fernandes bagged his second and United’s third before the break to put the Red Devils on the brink of saving their season.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Brennan Johnson headed Spurs in front after just 38 SECONDS.
James Maddison bagged No.2, Dominic Solanke added the third from the spot following a foul on Cristian Romero before the Norwegians bagged a late consolation goal through Ulrik Saltnes.
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Brennan Johnson said: “We are pleased. If someone said we’d have a two-goal cushion, we’d be happy with it.
“We’re disappointed to concede at the end but happy overall.
“Getting an early goal really set the tempo.”
A United-Spurs final would be the FIFTH all-English European showpiece.
Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final, while Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final in the same year.
United beat Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final and Spurs KO’d Wolves to win the 1972 Uefa Cup.
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