Friday’s briefing: Man Utd and Tottenham book Europa League final date

Manchester United and Tottenham booked their places in a blockbuster all-English Europa League final.

Chelsea are also one match from winning a European trophy after reaching the final of the Conference League.

Mount sends United through

Substitute Mason Mount’s magical brace helped United secure a 4-1 comeback win against battling Athletic Bilbao.

Last week’s 3-0 semi-final first-leg win at San Mames put the Red Devils within touching distance of a return to Bilbao for the May 21 showpiece, but Ruben Amorim’s side rarely do things the easy way.

Mikel Jauregizar’s 25-yard strike gave Athletic a deserved lead but Mount’s excellent turn and strike eased the nerves, followed by Casemiro’s header and a close-range Rasmus Hojlund effort.

And Mount scored a glorious second from long range in stoppage time, with goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala well out of position, wrapping up a 7-1 aggregate triumph.

Amorim told TNT Sports 1: “It’s the least we can do for all the fans for all the support they gave us in this tough season. But I’m stressed already because of the final because if we don’t win it, in the end it’s nothing.”

Spurs ease into final

Tottenham made it a full English after a 2-0 win in Bodo/Glimt sent them through to the final.

Spurs held a two-goal lead after last week’s first leg in north London, but had been warned to expect a stern examination on Bodo’s notoriously difficult artificial surface in the Arctic Circle.

However, Ange Postecoglou watched his team produce a masterful defensive display in the first half before they struck twice in the second period through Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro.

Afterwards, Postecoglou took aim at Tottenham’s critics, saying: “I mean, who cares if we’re struggling in the league? Why is that important?

“If it’s so easy to get to a final, then why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three do it? It’s a separate thing. It’s got nothing to do with league form.”

Blues cruise

Chelsea will play Real Betis in the Conference League final after they beat Djurgarden 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to round off a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall got the only goal of the second leg, pinging the ball in off the post in the 38th minute after an incisive pass from youngster Tyrique George.

Boss Enzo Maresca looked ahead to facing his “professional dad” Manuel Pellegrini in Wroclaw on May 28.

Betis are led by former Manchester City and Real Madrid boss Pellegrini, a  former Premier League winner at the Etihad who managed Maresca late in his playing career at Malaga.

“He is like one of my professional dads,” said Maresca, who also served as an assistant coach to Pellegrini at West Ham.

“(I learned) a lot, especially how to manage players and manage a squad. I had him four years, two as a player, two I was his assistant coach. I know exactly how he thinks about players.

“The most important thing is he’s honest, a good person. He always tries to be honest with players. I’ve tried to learn a lot about his way.”

Beckham thinking big

David Beckham is targeting the Premier League with Salford after he and Gary Neville became part of a new ownership group at the League Two club.

The former Manchester United stars are members of a consortium which also includes a US-based businessman, Declan Kelly, and Lord Mervyn Davies, and will take control with immediate effect.

“I will be over every big decision that’s made and every little decision that’s made,” Beckham told The Athletic. “That’s what my commitment is to Gary. It’s what my commitment is to the club.

“We’re definitely not doing it for a laugh and it’s also not for the romantic side of things. Yes, we care about the club — but we’re doing it to win. We want Salford to be successful and we have had success, but then we want it to go on to the next level.

“I always dream big so I’m always going to want us to get to the pinnacle of football and be in the Premier League. But there’s a lot of hard work and a lot of investment to be done up until that point.”

What’s on today?

After Sheffield United’s 3-0 win at Bristol City put them within touching distance of Wembley, the second Championship play-off semi-final sees Frank Lampard’s Coventry host Sunderland in the first leg.

The Sky Blues are bidding for a return to the top flight for the first time since 2001, while Sunderland have been away for eight years.

In Scotland, Ayr United are 1-0 up going into the home leg of their Scottish Premiership play-off quarter-final against Partick Thistle.