Was it ever in any doubt?
The aggregate score says Manchester United beat Athletic Club 7-1, but as always with the Red Devils they do things the hard way.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Any United fan would’ve ripped your hand off if you told them the game would finish 4-1 when Athletic Club poured forward in the second half as for 70 minutes, the tie became extremely nervy.
United just couldn’t get the ball down and calmly take the sting out of the game, so when Mason Mount cancelled out Mikel Jauregizar’s goal, Old Trafford breathed a sigh of relief.
Ruben Amorim’s substitutions changed the game and from then onwards, it was party time as United found their groove and romped to a place in the final.
Another goal from Mount, another crucial header from Casemiro and a goal for Rasmus Hojlund finished the game off and sent Man Utd into the Europa League final.
Without further adieu, sit back, grab a cup of something nice and enjoy five things we learnt from the game as Utd booked their place in the final:
1. Nervy opening 70 minutes
I have no idea why this team loves to flirt with danger, perhaps it thrives in chaos and needs jolting into life when pushed into a corner.
There is no such thing as a boring, take-the-sting-out-of-the-game performance for Man Utd in the Europa League and for 70 minutes Athletic Club ran and ran at the defence.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Amorim’s men were devoid of calm and couldn’t dictate the tempo whilst the Spanish side were buoyed with nothing to lose.
Mason Mount’s goal was incredibly important as it quelled the nervousness in the stadium.
2. Subs changed the game
It’s quite simple, the added quality from Mason Mount, Amad and Luke Shaw provided the Red Devils with a focal point up front and some guile in midfield.
All of a sudden, with Bruno Fernandes deeper there was someone smart in midfield who could make the right jinks, play the smart passes and buy the right fouls.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Amad meanwhile may be Utd’s most important player in attack. We already mentioned in a previous article that his return was expected in May and it’s a big plus point that for the biggest game of the season, Diallo has minutes under his belt.
Ruben Amorim smelt the uncomfortableness and proactively changed things, and it worked.
3. Mason Mount Improving
Mason Mount before arriving at Manchester United was a huge, integral part in Thomas Tuchel’s Champions League winning solid team that routinely competed in Europe and finished high in the league.
The frustration with Mount has been the fitness, he has not lost his quality as a footballer and he’s starting to make a mark.
There are certain actions Mount does miles better than other United players, you can see his football IQ and nous.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Amorim spoke glowingly of Mount after the game and has spoke about how impressed he’s been with the Englishman previously.
If Mount can get more minutes he could be a mainstay in Amorim’s first eleven next season.
4. Hojlund Build-Up Issues
At this point, we’re at the stage where we know how Man Utd will play under Amorim. The build-up is simple, attract men and when pressed fire it into the striker.
This is normally the plan B if a full-back can’t be found, the problem is, teams are frequently figuring Utd out so the ball winds up being passed into Rasmus Hojlund often who can’t make the ball stick.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
The summer is important in making the team function better under Amorim’s style of play as he isn’t budging, but it may be that a different striker is needed to make United a better, more effective team.
5. Full Speed Ahead Bilbao
There has been immense pain this season. The normalisation of losses is something no one has seen at Man Utd and yet, by some miracle, they have a golden chance to save their season with a Europa League final appearance.
An intense final with two teams who have everything on the line awaits, but despite United’s horrible league form, it should be appreciated that they remain unbeaten in Europe and deserve their place in the final.
A brilliant rout of Real Sociedad, an incredible comeback vs Lyon, a mad 15 minutes that saw off Athletic Club.
The Red Devils were tested at every hurdle, but it feels as though every season despite the odds being up against the game, they somehow muster these crazy moments.
The final won’t be easy, there is so much at stake, but for now there is a golden chance to salvage this dreadful season.
