The stunning goal from Mason Mount secured Manchester United’s place in the Europa League final, while Reuben Amorim’s team seemed rather unorganized until he took charge.
Lenny Yoro, who was absent, managed to get the ball to Mount.
A delighted Mount raced toward the Stretford End as Amorim celebrated with clenched fists; the aggregate score against Athletic Bilbao stood at 4-1. Bruno Fernandez quickly contributed with a fourth goal after Casemiro successfully executed a free kick near the post.
Rasmus Højlund’s close-range finish capped a total of 7-1, setting up a matchup against Tottenham, alongside the haunting memories of past failures at the San Mames stadium.
It seemed as though United, perhaps forgetting their earlier “heart,” could easily squander their 3-0 lead from the first leg. And that reality became evident.
Mount entered just ten minutes before his equalizer, part of a crucial triple substitution alongside Diallo and Luke Shaw, enhancing Amorim’s tactical prowess as he managed the game.
The Portuguese coach, perhaps aware of the support from nearly 4,000 fans who believed, certainly didn’t need any extra motivation for his players.
Mikel Jauregizar struck a skillful shot from 22 yards, giving Athletic Bilbao a glimmer of hope after about 30 minutes.
United’s Andre Onana misplayed a pass, creating a boxed opportunity. Eight minutes later, the lively Alex Bellengator approached the goal but couldn’t find the net.
From then on, more pressure emerged, stemming from another off-target pass by Onana that led to a free kick, which he barely managed to deflect. Amorim’s players aimed for quick counters, reminiscent of the moment Casemiro skillfully assisted Bruno Fernandes.
In a well-executed play, Højlund set up space for a curve run, and Fernandez’s resulting shot was blocked.
Two subsequent breaks for United left Amorim reacting intensely. On one occasion, Berenguer surged from deep within their territory but his shot veered wide, a cautionary reminder for the United defense.
This all unfolded as the 30-minute mark neared. However, disaster struck as United lost the ball again; a misplaced header by Malone Sannady turned into a chaotic opportunity for Athletic. A cross-field pass intended for Renny Yoro reached Alvaro Jaurro, whose long-range effort missed Onana’s grasp, bouncing off the fingertips and leading to Jauregizar’s goal.
Fans from Athletic erupted, sensing a potential comeback. United needed to regroup as they faced a barrage of Athletic advances leading into halftime. Manuel Ugarte charged through the middle but Alejandro Garnacho’s square pass wasn’t finished by Dorgu. Garnacho also missed a golden chance to reclaim their three-goal cushion, shaking his head in disbelief.
Moments later, he quickly remedied the situation when Unai Gómez sent a low shot that Onana barely held onto.
Although Amorim’s side struggled with possession, they managed to regain composure briefly, yet continued to face relentless pressure. Gomez came close to scoring, but after Nacir Mazraui went down, his team’s corner was nearly scrambled clear.
Desperate for relief, United entered halftime under siege, prompting Amorim to implement substitutions. Shortly after, Mount, Mazrawi, Ugarte, and Garnacho enabled a lively attack down the right, leading to continued threats against Athletic’s goal.
