UEL Final: 5 Players To Watch Out For
The 2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) Final isn’t just another European fixture, it’s a high-stakes showdown between two English heavyweights desperately clinging to relevance. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom endured one of their worst domestic campaigns, will lock horns in Bilbao not just for a trophy, but for a lifeline.
A win here means silverware, a free Champions League ticket, and perhaps most importantly, a chance to rewrite the narrative of a disappointing season. But like any big final, the outcome often hinges on moments of individual brilliance. Here are five players to watch. These are players who have the potential to swing this final in their team’s favor.
1. Amad Diallo (Manchester United)
A year ago, most United fans weren’t sure if Amad Diallo had a future at Old Trafford. Fast forward to now, and the 22-year-old is being talked about as a game-changer. After bouncing around on loans and battling injuries, Diallo has finally found a groove under Ruben Amorim’s system. He’s been electric in the UEL, agile, fearless, and unafraid to take defenders on.
His ability to drift inside, beat a man, or drop deep to initiate a counterattack adds an unpredictable element to United’s attack, especially with Joshua Zirkzee injured. While Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund have been inconsistent and failing to hit the ground running almost the entire season, the Ivorian has undoubtedly been Manchester United’s best forward. Diallo isn’t just playing for a medal, he’s auditioning for a long-term role at one of the world’s biggest clubs. Expect him to light up the wing in Bilbao.
2. Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)
Micky van de Ven has had to fight for everything this season. Between early-season inconsistency and injury concerns, the Dutch center-back has been battling with hamstring problems since the time he signed for Spurs. But when fit and ready, Tottenham needed a defensive leader to step up, he answered the call.
Quick, composed, and deceptively strong, Van de Ven has solidified Spurs’ backline in UEL, particularly during their grind-it-out win over Eintracht Frankfurt. His speed allows the Spurs to play higher up the pitch, while his calmness on the ball keeps the buildup clean and composed. In a final where moments of chaos are inevitable, Van de Ven’s presence might keep Tottenham grounded.
3. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
There’s no getting around it, if United are going to win this final, Bruno Fernandes has to be at his brilliant best. He’s been the heartbeat of this team for years now, and even in what’s been a rocky season for the Red Devils, Fernandes has stood tall. He leads United in end product with seven goals and five assists in this UEL campaign. Fernandes has been phenomenal in a season considered the club’s absolute worst. And even during that, the Portuguese star has managed 38 goals and assists in all competitions. It’s not just the stats.
It’s the intangibles. The leadership. The passion. The moments when a game is slipping, and he drags the team back into it. His ability to thread a pass through a needle or rifle a shot from distance makes him a nightmare to defend against. Tottenham will know that letting him roam free is not an option.
4. Casemiro (Manchester United)
Casemiro’s inclusion here might raise some eyebrows. After all, this hasn’t been his best season, if you look at the start. But if you watched United’s knockout run and the 33-year-old’s form post-December, you know just how clutch the Brazilian has been.
In the UEL quarterfinal second leg against Lyon, Casemiro turned back the clock. He won a penalty, assisted twice, and was everywhere defensively, making crunching tackles, clearing danger, and organizing the midfield. And in the semis? He scored against Athletic Club when United needed it most and displayed a phenomenal overall performance.
He might not cover ground like he used to, but his experience in finals is second to none. He’s won everything there is to win, and on a night like this, that matters, especially in a European final. If United finds themselves under pressure, it’ll be Casemiro keeping things calm and composed in the park’s center.
5. Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)
There’s always that one player who enters the final with a chip on their shoulder, and for Spurs, that guy is Dominic Solanke. Written off by many after leaving Liverpool, Solanke has rebuilt his career step by step.
His move to Tottenham last summer didn’t grab headlines, but his performances in the UEL sure have. So far, five goals and four assists in the competition, including a clutch penalty against Frankfurt and a composed finish in the semifinal against Bodo/Glimt, have made him the face of Tottenham’s European resurgence.
Strong in hold-up play, clever with his movement, and clinical in front of goal in UEL, Solanke offers the kind of physical presence that could give United’s injury-hit defense serious problems. If Spurs lift the trophy, don’t be surprised if Solanke’s fingerprints are all over it. The unfortunate bad timing injuries to James Maddison and Kulusevski are a massive blow to Tottenham’s attacking output, which has been a bright spark in a horrendous overall campaign. Spurs fans will hope to see Son and Solanke at their absolute best in the UEL final.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t your typical UEL final with clubs from different leagues feeling each other out. This is an all-English war between two sides who know each other well but are playing for far more than bragging rights.
For Manchester United, it’s about salvaging a chaotic season and finding something to build on, or things could be a lot worse for them next season. For Tottenham, it’s a chance to break a 17-year trophy drought and finally start winning trophies. In a match loaded with narrative, talent, and pressure, these five players, Amad, Van de Ven, Bruno, Casemiro, and Solanke, might hold the keys to history. Keep your eyes on them in the UEL final.
