It is Europa League or bust for both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United this season.
Tottenham and Manchester United have both been knocked out of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup this campaign and Europe’s second most prestigious club competition is their only chance of winning a trohy.
In the Premier League, both Spurs and United have been pitiful — with Ange Postecoglou’s placed 13th and Ruben Amorim and Co sitting in 14th.
| Position | Team | Played MP |
Won W |
Drawn D |
Lost L |
For GF |
Against GA |
Diff GD |
Points Pts |
 Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace |
27 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | 33 | 2 | 36 | |
| 13 |  TottenhamTottenham |
27 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 53 | 39 | 14 | 33 |
| 14 |  Man UtdManchester United |
27 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 33 | 39 | -6 | 33 |
Tottenham and Manchester United fans have had more reasons to be disappointed as they are on course to have one of the worst seasons in their respective histories.
But winning the Europa League could appease the supporters in question. Joe Cole and Ally McCoist were quizzed on TNT Sports about which team out of Tottenham and Manchester United will go further in the competition.
Joe Cole and Ally McCoist predict Tottenham to win Europa League over Man United
McCoist feels that where Tottenham could have the advantage in the Europa League is that they have key players coming back from injury, with Dominic Solanke and Cristian Romero set to be fit soon.
Joe Cole agreed with Ally McCoist and claimed that he would be shocked if Manchester United even reached the semi-final.
What both Cole and McCoist also agreed upon is that Tottenham will win the Europa League, with the Scotsman saying: “I think Spurs are going further. I think Spurs could win it. I think if they get key players back, they get a boost, they’ve picked up a little bit.”
Joe Cole replied: “I do as well.”
“I’d be stunned if United get to the semi-final. I’d be stunned. Spurs, I fancy them more. If you could give me one team, I could have the team, I’d have Spurs.”
Peter Crouch does not think Tottenham will win the Europa League but he still fancies them to do better in the competition than Manchester United.
“I’ve done a lot of their games this year as well and there’s obviously the hurdle of not having won things for a long time. I don’t believe they can win but I think they can get further than United.”
Rio Ferdinand surprisingly agreed with Joe Cole, Ally McCoist and Peter Crouch as he backed Tottenham to outperform Manchester United in the Europa League as well: “I’m just going with my heart over my head but I’m going to agree, Spurs are going to go further if I’m going to use my head.
When Tottenham and Man United could face each other in Europa League
Tottenham and Manchester United have difficult ties awaiting them in the Round of 16.
United are set to go toe-to-toe with Real Sociedad while the Lilywhites have AZ Alkmaar in store.
If Tottenham win, they will either play against Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-final and in the last four, they could be set to lock horns with either Lyon, Viktoria Plzen, Olympiacos or Bodo/Glimt.
Meanwhile, if Manchester United beat Real Sociedad, they could play against either Lyon or FCSB in the quarter-final and in the semi-final, Fenerbahce, Rangers, Roma or Athletic Club could meet them.
As a result, United and Tottenham could well meet each other in the final of the Europa League. Whether Joe Cole and Ally McCoist’s predictions about Spurs winning the competition holds true as well as how they doubted Manchester United’s chances will be intriguing to find out.
