Manchester United’s season rests on the Europa League. By their own admission success in Europe’s secondary tournament wouldn’t change the perception of their campaign that much, given it has been a disaster.
Lifting a trophy, for the third straight campaign, would help ease the pain though and, more than anything, land Champions League revenue. It would also give Ruben Amorim and the leading lights who appointed him something to hold onto going into the summer.
Before that though Athletic Bilbao will hope to stick the dagger in when they meet across the two legs of their semi-final. The Basque side are eyeing a spot in the final on their own patch with the showpiece event to be held at San Mames.
The stadium has been renovated over the past decade and cuts an impressive structure alongside the river that runs through the centre of Bilbao. The last time United went there it donned its previous guise as Sir Alex Ferguson was schooled by Marcelo Bielsa.
The La Liga outfit with their inferior budget and unwavering homegrown policy out ran, out fought and out thought the Red Devils. They won 3-2 at Old Trafford but it was at San Mames that they really did the damage, only winning 2-1, but outclassing United. Amorim can ill-afford the same experience.
Rewind to 2012 and, after a disappointing Champions League effort United had to deal with the Europa League, where they were among the favourites. They narrowly saw off Ajax but came up against a Bilbao side that were better in every aspect, seemingly leaving Ferguson with no answers.
Bielsa, before he arrived on English shores to make his name with Leeds, was known even then for demanding huge energy from his players and the Premier League giants couldn’t cope. Upon their rematch in 2025 the La Liga side are now firm favourites to progress.
A spirited defeat wouldn’t harm Amorim’s stock anymore than this season already has. There’s been little to hold onto following his appointment, bar a Manchester derby win and perhaps an FA Cup success at Arsenal. Should the Portuguese manager be uttering similar words to Ferguson though and the decision makers at Old Trafford might be wondering just how much to back their manager come the summer amid talk of an overhaul.
In the aftermath of United’s loss in Bilbao 13 years ago Ferguson said: “I don’t think we can complain about the result. I think that in the second half in particular Bilbao were the better team.”
He went on to add: “What we have seen tonight and last Thursday is a team whose work rate is higher than anyone I have seen in Europe, and that takes you a long way. Apart from the fantastic work rate, they have some good qualities also. It’s not just their work rate getting them where they are at the moment – they’re showing some very good combination football and I think they can go the whole way. I think there is a very good chance they could win it.”
No one could argue it was a footballing lesson being handed down to United and Ferguson, from a side that were sitting seventh in La Liga. Nowadays they are in the hunt for the Champions League with Nico Williams, perhaps their most devastating attacking weapon, capturing Europe’s attention following his exploits with Spain.
Amorim needed the latest of late shows to edge out Lyon in the last eight. Three goals in the final minutes lit up Old Trafford but that kind of magic cannot be relied upon too often. The United boss can afford to lose his semi-final tie, but the manner of it may prove more defining for Amorim and his impending rebuild.
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