Manchester United are getting ready for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao. After a strong 3-0 win in Spain last week, United are in a great position to reach the final, where they will likely face Tottenham.
The win was a rare highlight in a very difficult season for United. On Sunday, they lost again, this time to Brentford, making it their 16th Premier League defeat—more than in any season for the past 35 years.
United now sit 15th in the league and could have their worst finish since 1974, though they are not in danger of being relegated.
Coach Ruben Amorim clearly has his focus on the Europa League. He rested many key players against Brentford and started one of the youngest teams in Premier League history.
The Biggest Match So Far
“We are losing games in the Premier League and fighting for the Europa League,” said United’s Portuguese manager. “We have to accept that, and now focus on Thursday. That match is the most important for us.”
The future of this season—and maybe next—depends on whether Manchester United can beat Athletic Bilbao and then win the final, most likely against Tottenham, who are leading 3-1 after the first leg.
Winning the Europa League won’t fix their poor Premier League season, but it would get them into the 2025/26 Champions League. That would help the club earn more money and attract better players.
Amorim, who used to coach Sporting Lisbon, admitted it’s hard to manage both Premier League and Champions League football. “We need to win this competition for our fans and to make it to the Champions League,” he said. “Then we’ll have time to get the team ready for both leagues. It’s tough, but we want to win.”
Amorim has had a tough time since joining United. Only the bottom teams—Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton—have fewer league wins than United, who have won just six matches since he replaced Erik ten Hag in November.
Manchester United are close to reaching the Europa League final, thanks mostly to their captain Bruno Fernandes. He scored two goals in the first leg against Athletic Bilbao, where United also got help when Bilbao’s Dani Vivian was sent off early.
Bruno has now been involved in 31 goals in 32 Europa League knockout games — the most by any player since the tournament was renamed in 2009.
If Tottenham finish their job in Norway and United go through, it would lead to the sixth all-English final in either the Champions League or Europa League.
Tottenham have also had a tough season in the Premier League, sitting just below United with 19 losses in 35 games. Still, manager Ange Postecoglou hopes to keep his record of winning a trophy in his second season with any club and bring Tottenham their first title since 2008.
If either team wins the Europa League, six Premier League clubs could play in next season’s Champions League.
