Why are Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison not playing in the Man Utd vs Spurs Europa League final?
TOTTENHAM Hotspur will be without two of their most influential attacking players for the Europa League final against Manchester United.
Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison’s absences are due to injuries sustained in the final weeks of the season, severely impacting Spurs’ preparations for this crucial match.
Dejan Kulusevski — knee injury and surgery
Dejan Kulusevski has been a key figure for Tottenham this season with 10 goals and 11 assists across 50 appearances.
He suffered a knee injury during Spurs’ 2-0 home defeat against FA cup heroes Crystal Palace on May 11, 2025.
The Swedish international was forced off the pitch in the after 19 minutes, with subsequent medical evaluations revealing damage to his right patella.
Kulusevski underwent surgery on his knee shortly after the injury, which has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, including the Europa League final.
At first Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said: “It should be okay. Just talking to him after, the medical team’s not too concerned with him.
It’s more of a knock than anything else… We’re hopeful it will be fine. I can’t say for sure, though.”
However, after further assessment and surgery, Ange confirmed the the news his side’s fans were fearing: “Initially we thought it wasn’t too serious but it blew up the day after.
“He’s had the surgery, which will put him out for at least a few months.”
On whether Kulusevski would be ready for the start of next season, he added: “We’ll see. I currently have only basic details regarding his recovery, but it will definitely keep him out for a considerable period.”
James Maddison — season-ending knee injury
James Maddison, another creative force in Tottenham’s midfield, has also been ruled out of the Europa League final due to a knee injury.
Maddison sustained the injury during the first leg of the semi-final against Bodø/Glimt at the start of May.
Despite his instrumental role in Spurs’ European campaign, both scoring and assisting in key knockout matches, Maddison’s season was abruptly ended by this setback.
Tottenham confirmed he would not return before the end of the season.
The midfielder expressed his disappointment publicly, stating he was “absolutely gutted” to miss out on the club’s biggest match in years.
Maddison wrote on social media: “Gutted. Just absolutely gutted.”
“We’ve had our sights on that European final in Bilbao from day one.”
He added: “But I truly believe it can be a special night for my football club. Bring on the 21st. All together.”
His absence leaves a significant creative void in Spurs’ lineup for the final.
Impact on Tottenham’s lineup
The loss of both Kulusevski and Maddison is a major blow for Tottenham.
Both players have been central to the team’s attacking play and their injuries have forced Ange to rethink his approach for the final.
In addition to these two, Spurs are also missing Lucas Bergvall (ankle injury) and Timo Werner (hamstring injury) from the squad named for the knockout stages.
Nevertheless, Tottenham will look to rally around their available squad members in hopes of securing their first major trophy since 2008.