Manchester United head into Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao with a commanding 3-0 advantage, placing one foot firmly in the final.
Ruben Amorim’s side delivered one of their finest performances of a chaotic season in the first leg in northern Spain, leaving them in control of a tie that concludes at San Mamés, which also hosts the final.
Premier League nightmare continues
Despite their European dominance, United’s domestic form has plummeted. A 2-1 loss at Brentford on Sunday marked their 16th Premier League defeat of the season — their worst tally in 35 years.
The Red Devils now sit 15th in the table and are on course for their lowest top-flight finish since being relegated in 1974, although they are mathematically safe.
Amorim focused on European glory
Amorim, who made eight changes at Brentford and fielded the third-youngest side in Premier League history, reiterated that the Europa League is now United’s main focus.
“We are losing games in the Premier League; we are fighting for the Europa League, so we need to accept that and think about Thursday as the most important game for us,” he said.
“The end of this season is very important.”
Champions League spot at stake
Winning the Europa League would not erase the disappointment of a dreadful league campaign, but it would earn United a valuable place in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League — critical both financially and in attracting elite talent.
Fernandes leads by example
Captain Bruno Fernandes has been pivotal to United’s progress in Europe. He scored twice in the first leg and now boasts 31 goal involvements (19 goals, 12 assists) in 32 Europa League knockout games — the most in the competition since its 2009 rebranding.
Building for the future
Amorim, formerly of Sporting Lisbon, admitted his side are still a work in progress, especially in balancing domestic and continental demands.
“We need to fight to win this competition, to give something to our fans, and to go to the Champions League,” he told Sky Sports.
