EXCITED Brits have been flocking to Spain ahead of tomorrow’s glittering Tottenhamversus Manchester United Europa League final.
Up to 70,000 fans have made the extraordinary exodus from the UK – with many already indulging in tasty cervezas in sunny Bilbao.
With just six daily direct flights from Britain to the Basque region’sindustrial port city, supporters have been forced to create their own imaginative itineraries.
And with only 65 in Spain’s tenth largest city, accommodation was fully booked weeks ago.
Each club has millions of fans across the globe, but since there are just 14,000 tickets allocated to each team, bagging a seat to the showpiece event has been a tricky task.
Last night, precious tickets to the big game were selling on the black market for up to £10,000.
was charging £1,823 to fly from Gatwick to Bilbao on Wednesday morning and return on Thursday morning, while the cheapest hotels for Wednesday night cost around £1,200.
But for those fans who managed to snap up the golden tickets, footage has shown them enjoying themselves.
A Bilbao bar was flooded with Brit fans chanting and drinking ahead of the anticipated final.
Spurs fans were also seen welcoming the team bus as it arrived in the city one day before the clash.
Footage taken by The Sun showed fans arriving to fill the streets of Bilbao about 40 hours before kick-off.
Despite dismal Premier League seasons – United finishing 16th in the table and Spurs in 17th, perilously close to the relegation zone – die-hard supporters were emptying their bank accounts and flocking to Bilbao.
Aside from European glory, the victorious team qualifies for next season’s cash-riddled , worth a cool £100m to the club lifting the prized trophy.
The travel chaos endured by thousands of footie fans has mirrored the 1987 American road trip comedy movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles starring Steve Martin and John Candy.
Spurs fan John Affleck of Enfield, Herts., was today enjoying local delicacy pintxos – snacks on a slice of bread resembling an open sandwich – washed down with Sangria.
He told The Sun: “I flew to then got the train down. There are no hotel rooms so I’m bunking up with a pal on his hotel floor.
“The trip will cost me more than £5,000. I’m broke, but I really don’t care. We just need to win.”;;
Frank Johns, a Red Devils season ticket holder, jetted out yesterday from Heathrow via Schiphol in .
He said: “It has been a pitiful season but none of that will matter if we lift the trophy.”;;
Under-fire and face the chop if they don’t prevail in the final – cruelly dubbed “El Crapico”;; by rival fans and pundits.
Amorim masterminded United’s 7-1 semi-final demolition of ten-man Athletic Bilbao.
Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: for Bilbao clash
And Postecoglou guided his Tottenham team to a 5-1 triumph over Norwegians Bodo/Glimt in the other to set up the all-English final.
A row over the winning side’s qualification to the Champions League, and the mega windfall it brings in TV and advertising revenues, has been stoked by – ex-boss of Spurs’ rivals .
The dour Frenchman believes neither the Red Devils or Spurs should be allowed to compete in the top tier European trophy.
changed its rules in 2014 to allow the winners of the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League – but Wenger believes this is “not right”;;.
The ex-Gunners boss said: “No. They should qualify automatically for the Europa League but not necessarily for the Champions League.”;;
Since the rebranding of the Europa League, Uefa’s second biggest continental club competition, in 2009-10, no team lower than 12th has reached the final or won it.
, 12th in , lifted the trophy in 2023 while , who also finished 12th in the Prem in the 2009-10 campaign, lost the final to in 2010.
Wenger departed Arsenal in 2018 before being appointed ‘s head of global development a year later.
He has proposed a raft of controversial changes, including tweaks to the offside rule and a biennial World Cup.
The United-Spurs final is the fifth all-English European showpiece.
Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by in the 2019 Champions League final, while 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.
Tottenham have already beaten the Manchester outfit on three occasions this season – twice in the league and once in the .
They are looking to end a trophy drought that dates back to 2008 and has hung over the club – to the delight of opposing fans.
United meanwhile have continued to be dire in the Prem with Amorim claiming his side are “not ready”;; to be competitive domestically and in the Champions League.
Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: for Bilbao clash
