Manchester United seek to finish off Athletic Bilbao in chase for Europa League glory

MANCHESTER – Manchester United are preparing for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao on May 8 knowing only a calamity will prevent a likely showdown with Tottenham Hotspur on May 21.

Ruben Amorim’s men came away from the first leg in Spain last week with one foot firmly in the final, also in Bilbao, after an impressive 3-0 win.

It was an extraordinary result in a season of ceaseless turmoil at United and the club reverted to type on May 4, crashing to their 16th English Premier League loss of a miserable season at Brentford.

United have now suffered their highest number of league defeats in a campaign for 35 years. They are 15th in the league – on course for their worst finish since they were relegated in 1974, though this time they are safe from the drop.

Amorim has made no secret of his priorities for the rest of the season, making eight changes to his starting team at Brentford, naming the third-youngest side in Premier League history.

“We are losing games in the Premier League, we are fighting for the Europa League, so we need to accept that and to think about Thursday as the most important game for us,” said the Portuguese boss.

“Thursday is the most important game. The end of this season is very important.”

He was handed a boost on May 7 with the news that brothers Nico and Inaki Williams, both Bilbao wingers, will miss the second leg due to injury.

Oihan Sancet, Bilbao’s top scorer this season with 17 goals, was also omitted from the squad for the game at Old Trafford.

The trio are the Spanish side’s main attacking threats, having combined for 39 of Bilbao’s 73 goals this term.

This season and next hang on whether United can complete the job against Bilbao and go on to win the final against Tottenham or Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, with Spurs 3-1 up after the first leg in London.

A late goal by midfielder Ulrik Saltnes gave the club from inside the Arctic Circle a lifeline ahead of the home leg.

“It was more of a relief that we were able to lift ourselves a little and get into the game,” said Saltnes. “We are still huge underdogs, but at least now it will be a battle.”

Bodo/Glimt are used to battling in Europe and have taken some notable scalps this season. In the quarter-finals, they looked dead and buried in extra time of the second leg against Lazio in Rome, only for Andreas Helmersen to score an unlikely equaliser and force a penalty shoot-out, which they won.

They beat Porto in the group stage before knocking out Conference League holders Olympiakos and Lazio.

Saltnes believes they can keep their run going, saying: “I think they will play very similarly to the last game. We have absolutely nothing to lose, and we just have to attack as best we can.”

There should be some justification for his optimism. Spurs have had a traumatic season in the Premier League – they are one place below United, with an eye-catching 19 defeats in 35 games.

Meanwhile, in the Conference League semi-finals, Chelsea hold a 4-1 lead over Djurgarden, but the other tie is tighter with Real Betis 2-1 up ahead of their trip to Fiorentina. AFP, REUTERS