9h ago 17.22 EDT “It’s hard to describe what it is to be a manager at this kind of club,” he says to finish, “because you want to give something to them,” meaning the fans. “We were so disappointing during the season, so it’s more important to give something to them than to put it on my sheet as a winner. I thin I talk for every player in that dressing room.
We want to give something to our fans.” Share 9h ago 17.18 EDT Having a full squad makes a difference, Amorim continues. You can go back, go forward, change the game. Then, back to Mount, he says he does everything, working hard, eating well, resting, ice bath “and you just want to help him”.
And there’s more! “He is perfect for that position because he can be like a midfielder, he can run like a winger, he can play with hos back to the goal.” Share 9h ago 17.15 EDT Ruben Amorim is with TNT, telling them he’s “Stressed already, because of the final. If you don’t win it in the end, is nothing.” Asked about the adulation he’s getting off the fans who’ve stayed behind, he says he feels uncomfortable because he should be a better manager, but United have done “quite well” in Europe, but not the league.
Asked about the subs, he says they gave energy – Mazraoui is tired. Amad, though, gave the spark you need to change the game – in his absence, they’ve had to leave Garnacho on sometimes because he’s the only one with pace in behind. Amorim is really happy for Mount, who you can tell he really likes – “such a player”, who works really hard and has quality.
And he also really likes Mainoo, who only played 10 minutes but kept doing the right thing. Share 9h ago 17.10 EDT “Can’t say I profess much love for Utd,” confesses Colum Fordham, “but pleased for Mason Mount that he has had a decent match and scored a sumptuous goal to remind everyone what a talented player he is. I’ll be supporting Spurs in the final but have an ominous feeling that Amorim will get his trophy after a disastrous league season.
Two less worthy finalists would be hard to find.” Mount was a mad buy given United’s limited finances – £60m when he was free a year later and a midfield of him, Bruno and Casemiro could never work. But I agree he’s a good – and clever – player, even if I’m not sure he’s a future at United as a first-choice. Also, though United and Spurs are no good, they’ve come through a load of games over the course of a full season to get to the final – and, as I said, United have done it without losing a game.
To me that makes them worthy. Still rubbish, but worthy. Share 9h ago 17.06 EDT “The problem for Man Utd now is that while the Europa League campaign has worked well, the final is a Premier League match,” chuckles Michael Meagher.
“That, and the fact it’s the law that Ange wins a trophy in his second season…” I can’t imagine how much he’ll enjoy reminding the press of that if Spurs win in Bilbao. As he should. Share 9h ago 17.03 EDT In the Conference League, Chelsea are through the final having beaten Djurgarden 1-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate; in the other semi, Fiorentina have beaten Betis 2-1 on the night to make it 2-2 on aggregate, thus extra time is currently being played.
Share 9h ago 17.00 EDT Mount tells TNT it’s been difficult with all the injuries and setbacks, but he knew something good would come. They knew it’d be difficult as the start as Athletic went as them and the goal settled everything. Back to his injuries, he says he kept working hard in training every day, staying positive and looking to make an impact when getting a chance.
It was tight when he and the other subs came on and they tried to calm things down, while seeking to affect the game. Asked abot his second goal, he saw the keeper come out, said to himself if it comes to him, first tuoch and shoot. He saw the defender was quite far from the goal so thought he could score, and says the first goal was instinct, looking to pinch a yard.
These were his first goals at Old Trafford and it’s a special night, one he’s been waiting for for a long time. Now they want to go back to Bilbao and finish the job. Share 9h ago 16.56 EDT There are final places to play for now, and the way tonight went, I wonder if Amorim will think about a change in personnel.
United were so much better once they started to play – in this team, Bruno is better deeper because no one else can pass through midfield as he can, while Amad gives them a proactive mischief that’s missed in his absence, and Mount knowhow, composure and a goalscoring instinct. Share 9h ago 16.53 EDT We started the night talking about Wilderness Years classics, and this was indubitably that – incompetence and excellence in outrageous, unexpected quantities. Share 9h ago 16.52 EDT FULL TIME: Manchester United (7) 4-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao United will play Spurs in the Europa League final!
Wednesday 21 May, Bilbao, Spain! Share 9h ago 16.51 EDT WHAT A GOAL! Manchester United (7) 4-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Mount 90+1) AND WHAT A CAMEO!
A ball into the channel for Hojlund, but again, Agirrezabala is out sharply. This time, though, his clearance picks out Mount, 10 yards inside the Athletic half, he takes down with his right foot then lashes a left-footer into the unguarded net. My days, he’s earned this elation.
View image in fullscreen Mason Mount scores from miles out! Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images Share Updated at 18.38 EDT 9h ago 16.49 EDT 90 min We’ll have two additional minutes. Share 9h ago 16.49 EDT 90 min Nice feet from Mainoo, who then flicks square with the outside of his boot seeking Bruno, but the pass is intercepted.
Share Updated at 16.49 EDT 9h ago 16.48 EDT 87 min “Well that’s that then,” says Dave Estherby. “Two of the worst sides in living memory contesting a trophy no one really wants anyway. How the mighty (and Tottenham) have fallen…” And yet winning this trophy is massively important to both these clubs.
Spurs will take anything, while it’d supercharge the pace of United’s rebuild. I hope the Bilbao dressing rooms have lots of toilets, because these players will be bricking it. Share 9h ago 16.45 EDT GOAL!
Manchester United (6) 3-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Hojlund 85) Yoro’s been superb in the second half of the second half and he again lanks froward, this time finding Dorgu who moves on to Amad. He jinks down the outside of his man, conjuring space where there appeared to be none and somehow catching up with the ball to cut back; Hojlund taps home from inside the six-yard box. What was all the fuss about?
View image in fullscreen Game over! Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images Share Updated at 16.50 EDT 9h ago 16.43 EDT 84 min Lovely turn from Amad on halfway – his proactivity shouldn’t stand out as much as it does – and he squares for Mount, who leaps to flicks behind his standing leg, finding the marauding Amass. What a goal this could be, but as he looks to check inside, his first touch is heavy and the shot blocked at source.
United have been much better the last 20. Share 9h ago 16.42 EDT 83 min You’ve got to credit Athletic, who’ve given this match everything. If they’d had their front three, this match might’ve looked different, but ultimately United have deserved to go through.
Share 9h ago 16.41 EDT 81 min Two more changes for United, Amass and Mainoo on for Lindelof and Casemiro. Share 9h ago 16.40 EDT GOAL! Manchester United (5) 2-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao (Casemiro 80) Bruno puts it into an area, swinging to the near post, Casemiro dashes from the middle into the space, and a perfect shoulder-glance sends the ball into the far side-netting and United into the Europa League final!
He aged about 30 years during the final suspension of his first season in England, but he’s been at the biohacking and has been superb in this competition. View image in fullscreen Casemiro scores for United! Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images Share Updated at 16.44 EDT 9h ago 16.38 EDT 79 min Fernandes will swing the free-kick out, right-hand side, 25 yards from goal… Share 9h ago 16.37 EDT 78 min Dorgu, whop’s been good tonight, again dashes forward, crosses, and though Athletic clear, they sustain the attack, then Bruno robs Nunez, who fouls him and is booked.
Share 9h ago 16.35 EDT 76 min Old Trafford is enjoying itself again, but United have been very poor tonight. Credit to the manager, though, who made positive, attacking changes, and brought about an immediate improvement. Share 9h ago 16.34 EDT 75 min Robbie Savage also references the Macheda goal, saying this one is more important.
I daresay your average United fan would argue stopping Liverpool winning the league at the same time as retaining the title easily outranks it. Share 10h ago 16.33 EDT GOAL! Manchester United (4) 1-1 (1) Athletic Bilbao This is a lovely goal!
First, Amad – always up to something – nips outside his man, crosses, and the ball is too high for Mount, skidding off his head. But United sustain the attack, Yoro injecting pace with a dart into the box before squaring for Mount who turns with a lovely little Cruyff, then curls low into the far corner – think Machedaaaaaaaaa – and what a moment that is for him. He was almost in tears when he was taken off with his most recent injury, the last three years of his career amounting to almost nothing.
But he’s enjoying himself now! View image in fullscreen Mason Mount scores! Photograph: Scott Heppell/Reuters Share Updated at 16.36 EDT 10h ago 16.30 EDT 71 min United have been much better since the changes.
Amad, in particular has made a difference, but so has Yoro, now stepping into the attack as the wide centre-backs in a 3-4-2-1 are meant to. Share 10h ago 16.29 EDT 69 min Amad forages and wins the ball, allowing United to build an attack, Yoro also joining in, twice, before sliding back for Bruno who shoots … but a defender, I didn’t see which, blocks superbly at source. Share 10h ago 16.26 EDT 68 min Hojlund loses it and find Sannadi, but Lindelof makes a good challenge, then overruns the ball and gives it away, Olabarrita swivelling into a shot from 22 yards, dragging it just wide.
Share 10h ago 16.25 EDT 67 min Another change for Athletic, Guruzeta on for Gomez. Share 10h ago 16.24 EDT 65 min Bilbao win a free-kick on the right and at the back post, Nunez is unmarker, looking a curving header that’s not far away from the far post … but doesn’t have quite enough draw on it. I think Onana would’ve got there if he’d needed to, but, well.
Share 10h ago 16.23 EDT 63 min I guess United will move Dorgu to the right and stick Shaw on the left; Bruno will move back to deeper midfield, and Amad is in the 10. Share 10h ago 16.22 EDT 62 min now three changes for United: Shaw, Mount and Amad for Ugarte, Mazraoui and Garnacho. Share 10h ago 16.21 EDT 61 min Ch ch changes.
Bilbao replace De Galaretta, Gorosabela and Djalo with Prados, De Marcos and Olabarrieta. Share Updated at 16.21 EDT 10h ago 16.20 EDT 60 min Most of Athletic’s attacks have come down the right but when they come down the left, Ugarte is forced to kick clear, then when he gets to carry forward a few seconds later, he immediately gives the ball away before Sannadi eventually shanks high and wide. Share 10h ago 16.18 EDT 59 min Casemiro is late on someone, Djalo I think, and after Athletic’s latest counter peters out, the ref brandishes a yellow card.
View image in fullscreen Casemiro goes in the book Photograph: Dave Thompson/AP Share Updated at 16.21 EDT 10h ago 16.16 EDT 57 min A flick-on, Yoro blocks, Mazraoui lumps away, and back come Athletic, Djalo crossing and Lindelof heading clear, then De Golaretta shoots and Dorgu blocks, the ball flying behind for another corner. This time, a cross ends up on the roof of the net, and United are readying Shaw, Amad and Mount. Share 10h ago 16.14 EDT 55 min Again, Bilbao wander through the space where United’s midfield should be – this is like the Ten Hag days – Djalo playing infield to Bereguer, but Mazraoui does well to follow him all the way infield from the left, then makes a telling challenge.
Again, though, Bilbao sustain the attack, forcing Dorgu to leather behind for a corner. Share 10h ago 16.12 EDT 53 min Onana lashes the ball downfield and can United keep it there? They’re really struggling to pass to each other and when Maguire gives it away, again, they’ll be relieved to see Berenguer’s pass hit too strongly for Djalo.
Amorim must surely change this… Share 10h ago 16.11 EDT 52 min Bereguer flights in, and the whistle goes for an infringement of some sort. Share
