Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
By Jon Clarke in Bilbao
Tottenham fans have promised to avenge Bilbao residents after Manchester United knocked their team out of the Europa League semifinals.
Last night, tens of thousands Spurs fans flooded the streets of the Basque Capital to deposit a giant bag of cash for bars and restaurants.
Thousands of Reds supporters were also in attendance in nearby Plaza Nueva. Neither group met in numbers, and there was little or no conflict.
In the upscale Poza district, Spurs supporters sang for hours, insisting that the stars would align for their first trophy in 17 years. They won the English League Cup, in 2008.
Local bar and restaurant owners told Olive Press Spurs was their choice after Athletic lost 0-3 to Spurs on May 1, at the San Mames Stadium, their beloved stadium.
Pepe, owner of Anaiak in Calle Doctor Areilza, said that the game would be close and go into extra time. But Spurs would win by a score of 3-2.
Busy from 2pm serving Spurs fans, he ‘couldn’t believe’ how busy the junction had got by 5pm when police had to close the street as well as next door Licenciado Poza.
Fans took over 200 metres of street near the San Mames Stadium, playing football and jumping around singing like they had already won.
The fans were able to sing from a balcony despite the fact that their star player Heungmin Son did not light up the stage.
Families from across the UK united in their colors.
Nigel, an Elstree-based London property developer, explained Olive Press He was paying for seven people.
He added, “Along with my wife and three daughters, two have brought boyfriends”
We all drove from Madrid to the airport in a 9-seater. Some people go on holidays to the Maldives. I spend my savings for trips like this.
The Spanish hospitality is amazing, and we are having a wonderful time.
While teenagers clambered up street signs and flares were being lit, many kids were walking around on their fathers’ shoulders.
The atmosphere was electric and good-natured, especially when the song about their former player Sol Campbell was sung.
The United fans who approached and drenched them in beer were not a problem.
Local police kept to a low profile throughout the day. Only around 9pm did riot vans appear.
They were there to calm things down, but did not intervene in the celebrations.
When a traffic sign collapsed and a boy was left on the street, a little confused, they kept their distance.
The police and most fans left the area around 11pm when the bars closed.
In Plaza Nueva the United fans enjoyed the sun.
The sun was out, but it wasn’t always in this part.
As far as they were concerned, they’ve been to this stadium before – just three weeks ago for an easy win – so beating Spurs today should be simple.
The match is crucial for both teams, who have had terrible seasons. They are currently 16th in the English premier league and 17th in the Premier League.
Winning will offer up a place in next season‘s Champions League, which is a huge prize, said to be worth between 60 and 100 million pounds.
Today at midday, the fan zones will be open to tens and thousands of fans from both sides who do not have tickets.
Many arrived having driven up to 24 hrs from the UK or flown in via the most complex routes, sometimes from Portugal and France.
One Manchester fan shared online his journey, which saw him travel from northern England by motorboat to Bilbao.
Reds supporters will undoubtedly be hoping for a smooth evening.
