Mohamed Salah wasted no time in rubbing salt into Manchester United’s wounds as he sent a message straight after Liverpool’s rival’s defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal was enough to secure victory for Ange Postecoglou’s side in Bilbao, and pile even more misery onto United in what is their worst season in the Premier League to date as they missed out on a place in next season’s Champions League.
Reacting immediately after the final whistle, Salah posted on X: “He did say he’d win in his second season. Congratulations!”, referencing Postecoglou’s promise earlier in the season that he would win a trophy this season at Spurs.
The Tottenham boss has faced increasing pressure in North London, with his side set to finish just above the relegation zone in the Premier League after a poor campaign. The Australian though has lived up to his promise, and sent Spurs into the Champions League alongside Liverpool in the process.
“I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed. I don’t say things unless I believe them,” Postecoglou said back in September.
(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
A scrappy final was befitting of United and Spurs’ standing in the Premier League this season, with not much quality on show in Bilbao.
Johnson’s goal was the only thing that would eventually separate them as he managed to bundle the ball home, via touches from Luke Shaw and Andre Onana.
Spurs would spend much of the second half camped in their own penalty area, with Micky van de Ven producing a remarkable goal line clearance to deny Rasmus Hojlund before Guglielmo Vicario produced a superb save in stoppage time to confirm their side’s victory, and leave Ruben Amorim reflecting on a disastrous season for his team.
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United will now miss out on any European football next season, with the problems mounting up at Old Trafford as they stare down the barrel of their worst season in decades, with Liverpool well out of sight at the opposite end of the Premier League table.
Liverpool.com says: Fair play to Postecoglou, he did exactly what he said he would! Tottenham being in the Champions League next season after the season it’s just had does seem bizarre, but at least it’s not United!
And Salah can probably consider himself a true Scouser now that he’s effectively laughing at United’s misfortunes. That message was cold from the Egyptian, and we absolutely love it.
