24/05/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | MAY 24, 2025

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Premier League dream turns sour for promoted clubs THE riches of the Premier League are on offer for Sunderland and Sheffield United as they face off in today’s Championship playoff final, but the promotion dream could quickly turn sour even for the winners. Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United went down 12 months ago with the lowest combined tally (66) of any three relegated teams in a 38 match Premier League season.

football is appointed. But that may only exacerbate the growing gulf between the Premier League and Championship. With just one game of the season to go, Europa League finalists Tottenham and Manchester United sit 16th and 17th in the table. “The longer the teams stay in the Premier League, the better they get,” said Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy. “If the same 17 teams stay in they are all going to invest massive amounts of money and get better on top of how good they are. It appears the gap will only get bigger.” – AFP

row, that’s 17 teams who have two full seasons of Premier League money and everything that comes with that. And it makes it harder for everyone to catch up.” Sheffield United received £110 million (RM605m) from the Premier League’s television and commercial deals last season for finishing bottom of the table. Once parachute payments, which are dished out to relegated clubs for a period of three years after they go down are factored in, one season in the English top-flight can be worth over £200 million (RM1.1b). Parachute payments could be abolished once a new independent regulator for English

Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton are on course to smash that unwanted record with just 59 between them heading into the final weekend of the Premier League campaign. The bottom three have won just two games between them in 2025 against the top 17. “It’s clear that the gap is big,” said Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who had secured back to-back promotions prior to this season’s reality check. “When that happens for two seasons in a

For the second consecutive season all three promoted sides from the Championship have been swiftly dumped straight back into the second tier at the first time of asking. Before the 2023/24 campaign, that had only happened once in English top-flight history, back in 1997/98. The growing gulf between the two leagues is evidenced by the points tallies of the bottom three in the past two seasons. Uefa apologise after medal faux pas UEFA have apologised after Tottenham captain Son Heung Min and vice-captain Cristian Romero were briefly left without medals after beating Manchester United to win the Europa League. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin was visibly surprised to see that there were not enough medals during the trophy ceremony, leaving Son, Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur, who were the three players last in line, empty handed. Son therefore lifted his first trophy with Tottenham without a medal around his neck – although the remaining medals were distributed in the dressing room once the Spurs players had returned inside to continue their celebrations. Uefa explained that they were left short after several more Tottenham players joined the ceremony that had been anticipated – including injured midfielders James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Timo Werner. “To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count, as more team members – including injured players – participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated,” a statement from Uefa said. “The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.” Tottenham secured one of the greatest nights in their history with Europa League glory after a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao secured their first trophy in 17 years. After celebrations went deep into the night in Bilbao, another party awaits back in north London, with a parade planned for overnight. Spurs were scheduled to leave Bilbao yesterday morning after staying overnight, with an open-top bus ready to mark the club’s first European trophy for 41 years. – The Independent Ű BY JAMIE BRAIDWOOD ANGE POSTECOGLOU has guided Tottenham to a first trophy in 17 years with Europa League glory against Manchester United in Bilbao. Spurs have experienced several near-misses since they enjoyed League Cup success at Wembley in 2008. Here’s a a look at the coaches who tried and failed to achieve what Postecoglou has at Tottenham. Harry Redknapp Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos, who led Spurs to Carling Cup glory in 2008. Even though Redknapp’s team made the final again the following year, a shoot-out defeat to Man United was the closest the popular English boss would

Clear-out at Old Trafford Man Utd put every player up for sale with Fernandes exit looming M ANCHESTER UNITED are set to hold a massive clear-out following their Europa League debacle in Bilbao. XI against Tottenham, has caught the eye of Napoli and Chelsea.

of things. When you don’t score goals, you always need more. Until we reached the final, I played every round. And I played 20 minutes today… I don’t know. “I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens next.” Amorim explained that it was a tactical decision to start Mount on the left side of attacking midfield in his 3-4-2-1 formation. “I feel Mason in this moment gives us a different balance,” Amorim told TNT Sports . “The way he compacts the team, he’s an extra midfielder. “Tottenham put full-backs and midfielders inside to overload the space. To have possession and a right foot in that position is important.” Meanwhile, Sancho will return to Old Trafford once the season ends but will be sold as he is one of the club’s highest earners. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, along with his Ineos colleagues including Sir Dave Brailsford, will supervise the significant squad revamp this summer.

The academy graduate had started every knockout match in the run to the final and eventually replaced Mason Mount in the 71st minute at San Mames. “Obviously it’s hard for everyone,” Garnacho told reporters. “Our season was s***. We didn’t beat anyone in the League. “ W e lacked a lot

The club’s management are prepared to entertain offers for all players, including captain Bruno Fernandes. The devastating defeat to Tottenham in the final cost United a spot in the Champions League and a £100 million (RM550m) windfall. The Red Devils will not participate in any European competition next season, potentially jeopardising their chances of signing top targets such as Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha, and Victor Osimhen. Due to severe financial

constraints, United must sell players to generate funds for Ruben Amorim to bolster his squad – assuming he avoids dismissal. No player in the United squad is safe, provided the price is right. High-profile players like Casemiro, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Andre Onana, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Fernandes could be sold to the highest bidders.

Amorim’s squad will set off on a demanding post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong immediately after tomorrow’s season finale against Aston Villa at Old Trafford. However, once

United are also keen to sell Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Jadon Sancho, who have spent this season on loan at other clubs. Rashford is eager to leave after a total breakdown in his relationship with Amorim and the club, and is eyeing a transfer to Barcelona. Garnacho, who was furious about being left out of the starting

back in Manchester, the club hierarchy will commence the enormous task of offloading those players deemed sellable. – E x p r e s s Newspapers/ The Independent

Bruno Fernandes (left) and Rasmus Hojlund.

Tottenham bosses that failed to win any trophy Ű BY GEORGE SESSIONS

four consecutive final defeats. Antonio Conte

go to winning silverware during four years in north London despite several exciting cup runs. Andre Villas-Boas A Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham made the Europa League quarterfinals under Villas-Boas in 2013, but the former Chelsea boss left after only 18 months and short-term replacement Tim Sherwood could only emulate a last-eight run in Europe before his tenure concluded. Mauricio Pochettino Pochettino came closest to the holy grail during a largely successful five years as Spurs head coach with a League Cup final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley in 2015 followed four years later by Champions League heartbreak in Madrid to

domestic rivals Liverpool. The Argentinian also presided over two unsuccessful Premier League title challenges and although Tottenham were never top during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, it added to the sense a growing trophy drought would never end. Jose Mourinho Serial-winner Mourinho was hired with a clear brief to help Spurs make the crucial last step and did take them to the Carabao Cup final, but failed to manage at Wembley after being dismissed following a run of three defeats in six matches, including a shock Europa League quarterfinal exit to Dinamo Zagreb. Instead, rookie coach Ryan Mason went toe-to toe with Pep Guardiola and unsurprisingly Tottenham lost 1-0 to Manchester City to make it

After Nuno Espirito Santo lasted only 17 matches, Conte was the next win-now manager Spurs chairman Daniel Levy turned to in a bid to end a frustrating trophy drought. Whilst Conte did take the club back into the Champions League, a one-sided two-legged Carabao Cup semifinal loss to Chelsea was followed by disappointing domestic cup losses to Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United before AC Milan eased past Tottenham in the last 16 of the Champions League. It made Conte the latest to try and fail to win at the north London club until Postecoglou pulled it off with a 1-0 win at San Mames on Thursday. – The Independent