Gary Neville delivers Man Utd vs Tottenham Europa League final prediction - 'they need it'

Gary Neville has explained why he thinks Manchester United will win the Europa League but his honest prediction has given Tottenham some hope of triumphing in Bilbao.

While United are seeking a third trophy in as many seasons, Spurs are out to end a 17-year wait without one and the winner will also be playing Champions League football next season. That has taken some serious scrutiny in recent weeks as the two teams look set to finish in the two spots just outside the Premier League relegation zone.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall have been ruled out, though there is hope the latter can feature. Pape Matar Sarr also picked up a back issue in the Friday night defeat to Aston Villa but all of those players, minus Kulusevski, have been spotted in Bilbao.

Given the players seemingly available, United are favourites in the eyes of most with Neville appearing to agree on that. The former United defender has given two reasons as to why they should win, but he has also suggested his prediction could be way off as it was for a different final earlier in the season.

“I think United will win," he admitted on Sky Sports. "There’s some players in there - Bruno and Casemiro - who will feel that occasion and want it, need it in their lives. I agree with the belief.

"I know history is something that gets pointed towards although at the Carabao Cup final earlier this season I thought Liverpool would absolutely lift that trophy and Van Dijk would be up on that podium, and they weren’t. There’s got to be a garden against that. I do feel confident in United just getting through this game on Wednesday.”

While Neville is right about United having winners in their squad, Spurs will have a world champion in the centre of defence. Though Mathys Tel is only 20, he fully understands the mentality needed to win having spent two-and-a-half years at Bayern Munich.