BILBAO, Spain: Ahead of the Europa League final between two teams ranked 16th and 17th in the English Premier League – Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – a fight broke out between groups of supporters of both teams.
So 70,000 Man United and Spurs fans flooded the city of Bilbao in a relaxed and calm manner ahead of the final action early tomorrow morning.
However, in the nearby city of San Sebastian, the situation turned violent when a group of supporters fought.
In a viral video, football hooligans are seen fighting and throwing objects at each other.
Local residents reported the incident to the police at 9.20pm after witnessing the bad behaviour of English fans on Fermín Calbeton Street.
According to witnesses, the fight broke out when two large groups of supporters began shouting and insulting each other.
It turned violent and everyone started reaching for objects to throw. One even used the table as a weapon.
Local police rushed to the scene after receiving a report and the situation was brought under control.
No arrests have been made so far, but authorities remain in the area to control the situation.
An ambulance was also sent with several supporters receiving treatment at the scene.
LIVERPOOL: England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool, the club he has been with since he was six years old, he said on social media X today.
The Liverpool-born player built his career from a young age to become one of the world’s best right-backs – winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the English club.
“This club has filled my whole life – my whole world – for the past 20 years. From the Academy to now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside the club will stay with me. I will never forget how much I owe you all.
“But, I never knew anything else and this decision is about experiencing new challenges, taking myself out of my comfort zone and challenging myself personally and professionally,” said Alexander-Arnold, admitting it was the hardest decision he had ever made.
The 26-year-old, who has been a regular in Liverpool’s attack, has been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid, who are keen to use his services starting with next month’s Club World Cup.
LONDON: Ruben Amorim has warned Manchester United players that they have a huge responsibility to salvage a humiliating season by winning the Europa League.
United warmed up ahead of the Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao with another Premier League defeat at Brentford yesterday.
Amorim’s men lost 4-3 and are 15th in the league and are at risk of ending the campaign in their lowest position since being relegated in the 1974-74 season.
United’s unbeaten run in the league now extends to six games. They trailed 4-1 behind Brentford before goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo reduced the deficit.
Amorim lost 12 of his 24 league appearances for United, winning just six.
But after a 3-0 win over Bilbao in the first leg of the semi-final, United realised they had a chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League.
“I think it’s stressful when you lose. When competing for a championship it’s not stressful.
“I have no doubt that we played better and understood our game pattern in this context.
“So we will accept all the criticism. We lost in the Premier League, but we are fighting for the Europa League, so we have to accept it and think about the important match this Thursday,” said Amorim.
Amorim made eight changes at the Gtech Community Stadium to rest its key players ahead of the second leg against Bilbao at Old Trafford this Thursday (early Friday morning).
Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire were among United’s key stars who were left out of the starting line-up against Brentford.
LONDON: Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood scored his 19th Premier League goal of the season in a 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur to help his side climb back into third place in the league on Monday morning.
Back-to-back defeats have hampered Forest’s bid to qualify for the Champions League and they started the day in sixth place but their challenge has been shaken up again following a strong start in north London.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team took the lead after five minutes when a corner kick landed on Elliot Anderson’s feet in the corner of the penalty area and his powerful shot found the net.
New Zealand striker Wood then had his goal disallowed by VAR for offside before doubling Forest’s lead with a powerful header following Anthony Elanga’s cross in the 16th minute.
Tottenham improved after a poor start and Richarlison saw their pressure pay off with a powerful header past Matz Sels in the 87th minute.
Forest defended that position to leapfrog Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United in the race for a top-five finish with 60 points.
Tottenham, who qualified for the Europa League semi-finals, are in 16th place with 37 points after suffering their 18th defeat in the league this season.
“This result is big for us. It’s a big game to come and try to get three points. The players proved what we’re capable of and we’re happy,” said Anderson.
“We really needed it after two defeats. We came back and won again so it’s a big thing for us. We have to keep believing until the last game. We will keep putting pressure on.”
Tottenham, who beat Eintracht Frankfurt on aggregate on Thursday, could salvage their season by winning the Europa League and claiming their first trophy since 2008.
But a first league home defeat to Forest since 1997, under the former Tottenham manager who was sacked after just four months in 2021, has increased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou who is in danger of guiding the north London club to their worst league points tally since they collected 44 points in 1997-98.
LONDON: Andre Onana faces the defining match of his Manchester United career against Lyon in the Europa League on Friday morning as the English giants battle to revive their season.
The Cameroon international goalkeeper was the talk of the town ahead of the first leg of the quarter-final in France, which ended in a 2-2 draw, boldly claiming United were “much better” than their opponents.
It drew a backlash from former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, now at Lyon, who labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history.”
Onana was booed and jeered by fans in France and his words were self-defeating when he was blamed for both of United’s goals.
United manager Ruben Amorim dropped him for the trip to Newcastle on Sunday, bringing on backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, but they lost 4-1 with the Turkey international blamed for the fourth goal.
Amorim now faces a decision that could determine their season – will he re-list Onana or choose Bayindir again?
The stakes are high. Defeat at Old Trafford would effectively end United’s season, with nothing left to do in the Premier League.
A victory would allow them to continue their dream of winning the Europa League, which is a passport to play in the Champions League next season.
United, managed by Erik ten Hag at the time, paid around £47 million to sign Onana from Inter Milan in 2023 as a replacement for David de Gea.
Ten Hag, who previously worked with the goalkeeper at Ajax, spoke about his skills with the ball.
The 29-year-old has shown glimpses of his prowess at Old Trafford and has repeatedly shown his ability with the ball at his feet.
But he was inconsistent and developed a reputation as a ‘disaster goalkeeper’.