Manchester United are gearing up for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao, fully aware that only an unexpected disaster will stand in the way of a likely clash with Tottenham later this month.
Ruben Amorim’s squad returned from the first leg in northern Spain last week firmly positioned in the final, also set to take place in Bilbao, following a remarkable 3-0 victory.
This impressive win came amid a season filled with turmoil at United, who reverted to familiar struggles over the weekend, suffering their 16th Premier League defeat from a dismal campaign against Brentford.
United have recorded their highest tally of league losses in a season for 35 years.
Currently sitting 15th in the Premier League, the club is on track for their worst finish since being relegated in 1974, albeit this time they are safe from relegation concerns.
Amorim has been transparent about his priorities for the remainder of the season, making eight changes to the starting eleven against Brentford and fielding the third-youngest team in Premier League history.
‘Most Important Game’
“We are experiencing defeats in the Premier League, and while we are fighting for the Europa League, we must accept that and view Thursday as our most critical match,” the Portuguese manager stated.
“Thursday is the most important game. The conclusion of this season holds great significance.”
Both this season and the next may hinge on whether United can finish the job against Athletic and go on to claim victory in the final against either Tottenham or Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, with Spurs currently 3-1 ahead following the first leg in London.
Claiming the Europa League would not erase the disappointment of a poor Premier League showing, but it would secure entry into the 2025/26 Champions League—offering potential financial advantages and bolstering their appeal to top-tier players.
Former Sporting Lisbon manager Amorim acknowledges that while winning the Europa League is pivotal, his squad is not yet equipped to juggle the demands of both the Premier League and the Champions League.
“We recognise that, but our priority is to win and fight for this competition (Europa League), not just for ourselves but for our fans, and to secure a place in the Champions League,” he remarked to Sky Sports.
“After that, we can take the time to prepare the team to manage both competitions. It’s a dilemma, but of course, we want to win.”
Amorim’s tenure at United has gotten off to a rough start, with only relegation-threatened Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton winning fewer Premier League matches than United’s mere six since he took over from the dismissed Eric ten Hag in November.
The club’s potential advancement to the Europa League final owes much to the inspirational play of captain Bruno Fernandes, who netted two goals in Bilbao during a match that also saw Athletic’s defender Dani Vivian receive a red card.
Fernandes has recorded 31 goal involvements in 32 knockout-stage appearances in the Europa League (19 goals, 12 assists), making him the leading player in the competition’s history since its rebranding in 2009.
If Tottenham manage to finish the job in Norway and United progress as well, they would be set to face off in the sixth all-English final in either the Champions League or the Europa League.
Tottenham, too, has endured a challenging Premier League campaign, sitting just below United with a staggering 19 defeats in 35 games.
However, Ange Postecoglou still has the opportunity to fulfil his promise of winning a trophy in his second season at a club, aiming to secure Tottenham’s first silverware since 2008.
Should either English side triumph in the Europa League, that would result in six Premier League clubs qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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