Does Spurs v Manchester United Europa final expose flaw in new format?

It will be a case of 16th in the English Premier League against 17th when  Manchester United take on Tottenham in Wednesday night's Europa League final in Bilbao.

The reward for the winner? A place at Europe's top table next season.

It hardly seems fair that Ruben Amorim's woeful United side and Ange Postecoglu's equally dismal Spurs could be competing with Europe's elite while Nottingham Forest could miss out. To put their struggles into perspective, even already relegated Leicester are in better form than Spurs and United at the moment.

Both sets of fans will argue, rightfully so, that they don't make the rules for the competition. However, the scenario is surely one that organisers Uefa could not have envisioned.

It's their greed that may be the cause of the current situation, as they hide behind the apparent 'altruistic' drive to expand the beautiful game to all parts of Europe.

It's ironic that they are pointing their grubby little fingers at Fifa's ever-expanding efforts to get a piece of the club pie via the Club World Cup. But that's a topic for another day.

The Uefa Europa Conference League added to a bloated and taxing schedule for Europe's footballers. It also led to the phasing out of the system whereby teams that finished third in the group stages of the elite competition joined those in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Having been a critic of the second chance saloon for clubs that didn't make the cut, I was relieved at first by the change. However, I'm not so sure any more.

In their absence, the cream hasn't risen to the top.

It's no wonder that former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has called for the Europa League winners not to be guaranteed automatic Champions League qualification. A few more finals like these and he may get some support.

Red Devils and Spurs fans couldn't care one bit what "Le Professeur" thinks as they gear up for an unlikely shot at redemption in a season that promised anything but, and which they frankly don't deserve.

Amorim may be seen as slight favourite going into the final, though there are those who argue that Postecoglu has the better squad at Spurs. Then there is the debate about who needs it more.

Football pundits feel Amorim's future at Old Trafford does not depend on lifting the trophy as much as Postecoglu's does at Spurs. The Portuguese manager is expected to be judged more on United's performance next season, after he has had a chance to sign players more suited to his playing style.

The club's owners seem to have no choice but to back their man, after insisting he move in midseason, after he had wanted to start on  fresh slate at the end of the campaign.

Big Ange may not have as much time, with a number of Spurs fans hoping to see the back of the Aussie, whether they win or lose.

What is certain is the shot in the arm being crowned Europa League winners will give to both clubs, both financially and in terms of confidence going into next season. At the final whistle the winning fans are likely to celebrate like they've just the league.

Who knows, they could yet play out of their skins and produce one of the great finals. I won't hold my breath, however.