Manchester United return to UEFA Europa League action on Thursday evening as they travel to San Mamés to face Athletic Club in the semi final first leg match. United are undefeated in the Europa League this season and are the only team in ay European competition to be undefeated, which put United is a good place, at least for now.
Ruben Amorim’s side have played better football in Europe this season than they have in the Premier League or any other competition. United will need to lift the Europa League this season in order to participate in a European competition next season as they look to have their worst ever season in the Premier League since it began.
United are unlikely to finish above 11th place in the Premier League thin season and that is being generous. The club will then embark on an important summer for the club as answers to United’s problems will need to be found and a number of players will need to be signed for the club, betting the chemistry in the squad, which is poor.
Manchester United
Onana;
Yoro, Maguire, Lindelof;
Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu;
Garnacho, Fernandes;
Hojlund
Substitutes
Bayindir, Heaton; de Ligt, Shaw, Amass, Fredricson, Kamason; Mount, Eriksen, Mainoo; Amad, Mantato
Athletic Club
Agirrezabala;
de Marcos, Vivian, Alvarez, Berchiche;
Jauregizar, Galarreta;
L. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams;
Sannadi
Substitutes
Simon, Gorosabel, Paredes, Vesga, Djalo, Guruzeta, Nunez, Lekue, Gomez, Prados, Canales, Boiro
United and Bilbao have played four times in the history of both clubs and United have lost three times, wining one match, which was an aggregate victory back in 1957. The two sides last met more than 13 years ago with United losing both legs in the Europa League, exiting the competition at the round of 16 stage.
Amorim will need to keep his team fresh for these next two Europa League matches with United not able to achieve anything in the Premier League this season looking set to have their worst season in the top flight since the Premier League era began. United’s concentration on the Europa League is what needs to be done.
Having not beat Bilbao since 1957, United will need to look hard at the team because they are not a poor team as they are sitting in fourth place in LaLiga this season with five more matches to be played before the end of the season. The job for United will not be easy but it is not impossible either. Come on United.
Written by Paul
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