This is a disaster for Manchester United

In the build up to the Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, I was unsure if I even cared enough to watch.

I eventually tuned in because there was nothing else on TV that grabbed my attention.

I had already decided that I wanted Spurs to win, for the first time ever in my life.

Mind, when I saw a smug looking Sir Jim Ratcliffe sitting just yards to Daniel Levy’s left, there was very little to like in either club.

I thought both managers had picked relatively attacking sides, but the general standard of play in the first half was unsurprisingly, not very good.

Spurs took the lead shortly before half-time, with what looked to me like an own goal by Luke Shaw. At that moment, I actually had a feeling that this would turn out to be the winning goal.

The second period was just as tepid and frustrating as the first, Vicario naturally the busier of the two keepers as Manchester United chased the game.

Anyhow, Spurs won, good luck to them, and I believe that this result is a disaster for Manchester United.

There had been a lot of talk beforehand about what a travesty it is that one of these clubs (who have both struggled very badly at domestic level, currently 16th and 17th in the Premier League), would attain a Champions League place by winning this match.

Well, they have been the rules for a while. There is no doubting though, that having no Champions League clubs falling into UEFA’s second competition, now makes it easier to win.