Ruben Amorim has expressed uncertainty about how Manchester United will perform in their upcoming Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao, despite the team holding a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg. Amorim noted that United has a tendency to “lose their minds” during games, which makes predicting their performance challenging.
United will head into the match as favorites to reach the final on May 21 at San Mamés following their previous impressive victory there, aided by a goal from Casemiro and two from Bruno Fernandes. However, United’s recent matches have showcased a pattern of volatility; in the quarter-finals against Lyon, they squandered a 2-0 advantage before thrillingly scoring three goals in the final minutes of extra time to claim their spot in the semi-finals. Amorim pointed out this inconsistency, highlighting the unpredictability of United’s play: “Sometimes during the game we are one team, something happens and we lose our mind a little bit.”
The manager emphasized the importance of scoring in Thursday’s match to secure qualification, underlining the need for resilience. Athletic Bilbao will sorely miss key players, including their top scorers Iñaki and Nico Williams, as well as Oihan Sancet, due to injuries. Nevertheless, Amorim remained confident in facing the challenge posed by Athletic’s full squad, stating that the absence of key players doesn’t change their approach.
Amorim also took the opportunity to reaffirm that Bruno Fernandes, the club captain, is not for sale amid reported interest from Al-Hilal. The manager regards Fernandes as essential for the team’s success, saying, “He’s a leader, he’s the captain, so he’s really important.” Furthermore, Alejandro Garnacho, another target for Chelsea and Napoli, expressed his contentment with his current contract at United, which runs until 2028.
In a health update, Matthijs de Ligt will miss the matches against Athletic and West Ham due to a knee injury.
This match presents an exciting opportunity for Manchester United to demonstrate their potential and resilience, with hopes of advancing to the Europa League final, while Athletic seeks to defy the odds without their key players.