“Man United is the only team we don’t want to face and that’s because of that guy, he’s so difficult to play against and we’re all scared of him”: Nico Williams names ONE Man United’s player who’s every Athletic Bilbao players’ nightmare
Manchester United’s 5-4 win over Lyon on Thursday night felt like a watershed moment as Ruben Amorim’s side reached the semi-final.
It wouldn’t be Manchester United to do things smoothly, would it?
Ruben Amorim’s side led 2-0 at the 45-minute mark, with complete control over the game, many fans would already have been looking at travel arrangements for May’s trip to Bilbao.
However, in a shocking turn of events, United threw away the 2-0 lead which led to extra time where Lyon scored a quick fire double to put the Red Devils on the cusp of elimination.
With just seven minutes to go in extra time, all looked lost, but it was far from over, with Casemiro dragging United back into the game with a hand in all three goals.
Bruno Fernandes’ cool penalty was just the beginning, as Kobbie Mainoo then scored a brilliant equaliser for United. However, it was Harry Maguire who wrote the headlines with yet another big-headed goal for United, securing the win 7-6 on aggregate or 5-4 on the night.
Amorim will be thrilled and relieved, but likely also slightly frustrated that the game became so chaotic in the first place. Now, his semi-final opponent has been speaking about United.
Ernesto Valverde shares his immediate reaction to Manchester United beating Lyon
After the game, Amorim confirmed Europa League is 100 per cent the focus from now on, with the Premier League likely to see heavy academy influence.
This will not be what Athletic Bilbao were wanting to hear, but the La Liga side will know that the winner of this semi-final will head to the final as favourites with Spurs’ history of bottling finals – and Bodo/Glimt on paper a weaker squad.
However, speaking after the Bilbao game, as quoted by Touchline X, Ernesto Valverde was full of compliments for United, claiming that the club belongs not in the Europa League but in the Champions League.
“Manchester United are a Champions League club. Right now, they’re taking the Europa League as the only chance to qualify to where they belong.”
Valverde is spot on, but these comments sound as though he is trying to run with setting Bilbao up to be underdogs, but United will not mind as confidence must be sky high after the 5-4 win.
United will travel to Bilbao on the 1st of May, with hopes that it will be the first of two trips to the Spanish city in the month of May.
Manchester United almost hired Ernesto Valverde in 2021
This will no doubt be the toughest battle yet for Amorim, with Bilbao among Spain’s best teams, which means the defence cannot be shipping four goals at home, with their expert tactician manager likely to take full advantage.
United know Valverde well, with reports in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking claiming that the Spaniard was approached to take charge at Old Trafford.
As a manager, Valverde boasts a flawless record against United as he has taken charge twice and won both. He was the manager who knocked Solskjaer’s United out of the Champions League in 2019 with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford and 3-0 at the Nou Camp.
Amorim will be aware of this, and hopeful that United can pick up a huge victory over the two legs to set up a final clash with Spurs or Bodo. United need to win the competition, as Valverde said, to claim a rightful place in the Champions League next season.
