Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club (7-1 agg): Europa League semi-final, second leg – as it happened

Submitted by daniel on Thu, 08/05/2025 - 18:30

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Aha, Jamie Jackson’s report of another wild Old Trafford European night – it feels very odd to say that unironically – is here.

That being the case, that is us. Thanks for your company and comments, sorry I couldn’t use them all. Peace out.

“It’s hard to describe what it is to be a manager at this kind of club,” he says to finish, “because you want to give something to them,” meaning the fans. “We were so disappointing during the season, so it’s more important to give something to them than to put it on my sheet as a winner. I thin I talk for every player in that dressing room. We want to give something to our fans.”

Having a full squad makes a difference, Amorim continues. You can go back, go forward, change the game. Then, back to Mount, he says he does everything, working hard, eating well, resting, ice bath “and you just want to help him”.

And there’s more! “He is perfect for that position because he can be like a midfielder, he can run like a winger, he can play with hos back to the goal.”

Ruben Amorim is with TNT, telling them he’s “Stressed already, because of the final. If you don’t win it in the end, is nothing.”

Asked about the adulation he’s getting off the fans who’ve stayed behind, he says he feels uncomfortable because he should be a better manager, but United have done “quite well” in Europe, but not the league.

Asked about the subs, he says they gave energy – Mazraoui is tired. Amad, though, gave the spark you need to change the game – in his absence, they’ve had to leave Garnacho on sometimes because he’s the only one with pace in behind.

Amorim is really happy for Mount, who you can tell he really likes – “such a player”, who works really hard and has quality. And he also really likes Mainoo, who only played 10 minutes but kept doing the right thing.

“Can’t say I profess much love for Utd,” confesses Colum Fordham, “but pleased for Mason Mount that he has had a decent match and scored a sumptuous goal to remind everyone what a talented player he is. I’ll be supporting Spurs in the final but have an ominous feeling that Amorim will get his trophy after a disastrous league season. Two less worthy finalists would be hard to find.”

Mount was a mad buy given United’s limited finances – £60m when he was free a year later and a midfield of him, Bruno and Casemiro could never work. But I agree he’s a good – and clever – player, even if I’m not sure he’s a future at United as a first-choice. Also, though United and Spurs are no good, they’ve come through a load of games over the course of a full season to get to the final – and, as I said, United have done it without losing a game. To me that makes them worthy. Still rubbish, but worthy.

“The problem for Man Utd now is that while the Europa League campaign has worked well, the final is a Premier League match,” chuckles Michael Meagher. “That, and the fact it’s the law that Ange wins a trophy in his second season…”

I can’t imagine how much he’ll enjoy reminding the press of that if Spurs win in Bilbao. As he should.

In the Conference League, Chelsea are through the final having beaten Djurgarden 1-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate; in the other semi, Fiorentina have beaten Betis 2-1 on the night to make it 2-2 on aggregate, thus extra time is currently being played.

Meanwhile…

Mount tells TNT it’s been difficult with all the injuries and setbacks, but he knew something good would come. They knew it’d be difficult as the start as Athletic went as them and the goal settled everything.

Back to his injuries, he says he kept working hard in training every day, staying positive and looking to make an impact when getting a chance. It was tight when he and the other subs came on and they tried to calm things down, while seeking to affect the game.

Asked abot his second goal, he saw the keeper come out, said to himself if it comes to him, first tuoch and shoot. He saw the defender was quite far from the goal so thought he could score, and says the first goal was instinct, looking to pinch a yard.

These were his first goals at Old Trafford and it’s a special night, one he’s been waiting for for a long time. Now they want to go back to Bilbao and finish the job.

Spurs have beaten Bodo 2-0 on the night, 5-1 on aggregate. The great Scott Murray has all the reaction.

There are final places to play for now, and the way tonight went, I wonder if Amorim will think about a change in personnel. United were so much better once they started to play – in this team, Bruno is better deeper because no one else can pass through midfield as he can, while Amad gives them a proactive mischief that’s missed in his absence, and Mount knowhow, composure and a goalscoring instinct.

We started the night talking about Wilderness Years classics, and this was indubitably that – incompetence and excellence in outrageous, unexpected quantities.

FULL TIME: Manchester United (7) 4-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao

United will play Spurs in the Europa League final! Wednesday 21 May, Bilbao, Spain!

WHAT A GOAL! Manchester United (7) 4-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Mount 90+1)

AND WHAT A CAMEO! A ball into the channel for Hojlund, but again, Agirrezabala is out sharply. This time, though, his clearance picks out Mount, 10 yards inside the Athletic half, he takes down with his right foot then lashes a left-footer into the unguarded net. My days, he’s earned this elation.

Updated at 00.38 CEST

Updated at 22.49 CEST

And yet winning this trophy is massively important to both these clubs. Spurs will take anything, while it’d supercharge the pace of United’s rebuild. I hope the Bilbao dressing rooms have lots of toilets, because these players will be bricking it.

GOAL! Manchester United (6) 3-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Hojlund 85)

Yoro’s been superb in the second half of the second half and he again lanks froward, this time finding Dorgu who moves on to Amad. He jinks down the outside of his man, conjuring space where there appeared to be none and somehow catching up with the ball to cut back; Hojlund taps home from inside the six-yard box. What was all the fuss about?

Updated at 22.50 CEST

GOAL! Manchester United (5) 2-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Casemiro 80)

Bruno puts it into an area, swinging to the near post, Casemiro dashes from the middle into the space, and a perfect shoulder-glance sends the ball into the far side-netting and United into the Europa League final! He aged about 30 years during the final suspension of his first season in England, but he’s been at the biohacking and has been superb in this competition.

Updated at 22.44 CEST

GOAL! Manchester United (4) 1-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao

This is a lovely goal! First, Amad – always up to something – nips outside his man, crosses, and the ball is too high for Mount, skidding off his head. But United sustain the attack, Yoro injecting pace with a dart into the box before squaring for Mount who turns with a lovely little Cruyff, then curls low into the far corner – think Machedaaaaaaaaa – and what a moment that is for him. He was almost in tears when he was taken off with his most recent injury, the last three years of his career amounting to almost nothing. But he’s enjoying himself now!

Updated at 22.36 CEST

Updated at 22.21 CEST

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Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club (7-1 agg): Europa League semi-final, second…

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