In a game with huge ramifications for both Premier League giant, it was Ange Postecoglou who earned Champions League football for his side in a tetchy encounter at San Mames.

Johnson was credited with the scrappy winner shortly before half-time after his flick hit Luke Shaw, and another deft touch helped it past a helpless Andre Onana.

Rasmus Hojlund had a header cleared off the line for United in the second half of a match that produced little in the way of quality or clear-cut chances.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes also missed a great opportunity as Ruben Amorim's side searched desperately, but ultimately fruitlessly, for a way back in the game.

Amorim is now sure to face intense scrutiny after defeat in a season-defining game for both teams, while questions around Postecoglou's future are still unlikely to dissipate.

In truth, there was little to split the teams, and United bared their teeth first when Fernandes saw a fifth-minute shot blocked after Hojlund caught Spurs dawdling, while Amad Diallo flashed one wide of the left post when Tottenham failed to clear their lines at a corner. 

But it was Spurs who took the lead at the end of a first half full of endeavour yet lacking in quality.

Pape Matar Sarr's wicked delivery from the left channel caused panic in the United box, and Johnson's near-post flick squirmed home after a little help from Luke Shaw.

The second half was equally attritional, though Guglielmo Vicario stood up well when Leny Yoro got a touch on Fernandes' beautifully whipped right-wing free-kick to the front post.

Spurs then made a hash of a glorious two-on-one opportunity when Yves Bissouma overhit a simple pass to Dominic Solanke before Micky van de Ven made an extraordinary acrobatic clearance on the line from Hojlund's header after an awful handling error from Vicario.

Fernandes also put a free header wide from eight yards after a wonderful right-wing delivery from Noussair Mazraoui before Alejandro Garnacho's low edge-of-the-box drive drew the best of Vicario, who also pushed away Shaw's header deep in stoppage time, as United desperately sought an equaliser.

Centurion Ange true to his word as Tottenham end long trophy wait

In the build-up to this crucial fixture, Postecoglou took exception to one journalist questioning whether he would be viewed as a "clown" should Spurs lose this game.

Ultimately, there is now no one laughing at his assertion earlier this campaign that he always wins something in his second season at a club.

In winning the Europa League, Postecoglou has maintained that record of winning a trophy in his second full season with a club - he won the 1997-98 National Soccer League with South Melbourne, the 2011-12 A-League with Brisbane Roar, the 2019 J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos and the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup with Celtic.

It might not have been pretty, but Postecoglou's 100th game in charge of Tottenham – the first manager to reach the landmark in a major final while in charge of an English side since George Ramsay with Aston Villa in the 1892 FA Cup final – ended in a memorable night in Bilbao that Spurs supporters will remember for some time.

There is still a chance that this is the Aussie's penultimate curtain call, but if it is, he has ended a 17-year wait for a major trophy and a 40-year drought in Europe, when they won the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Luck was in at times for Spurs, but for some heroic Van de Ven defending and a baffling decision by Fernandes to stoop low for a header when a cushioned volley may have sufficed, the outcome could have been different.

As it is, Johnson – making his 50th appearance of the season as he became just the second Welshman to play in a Europa League final – is the man etching himself into Tottenham folklore forevermore.

Whether that will be enough for Postecoglou, whose side can only finish as high as 14th and currently reside 17th in the Premier League, to remain in the hot seat remains to be seen.

But, whatever happens next, he is a man who has undoubtedly remained true to his word, mate.

Amorim in the spotlight as United fumble the big one

Amorim has made little secret of the fact that he believes his side are one of the worst in United history.

It does beg the question whether his brutal honesty borders on naivety at times, and the young Portuguese boss is sure to face intense scrutiny now that United's season is ending not just in a complete whimper but abject failure.

This represented United's ninth major European final - only Liverpool (15) have more - but it is now four defeats in the five continental showpieces.

Amorim had the chance to become just the third United boss to win a trophy in his first season at the club, after Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag, and the third to win a European competition with an English club under the age of 40, but he came up short.

United went behind for the 31st time this season, the most of any Premier League club, and there was a deep sense of frustration as they huffed and puffed but never looked truly capable of blowing down the door.

The fact that the Red Devils have now gone seven games without a win against Spurs is a mere footnote in the wider context of a truly abysmal season in which the highest they can finish in the Premier League is 14th and European football is off the cards.

It was their 20th defeat in all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign since losing 22 in 1973-74, when they were relegated from the top-flight.

Everything was geared around this game, and now they have come up short, you have to wonder if the knives will start sharpening on Amorim's short reign at Old Trafford.