Ruben Amorim fears Athletic Club could make a comeback in the Europa League semi-finals despite Manchester United's 3-0 aggregate lead.
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Man Utd carry a 3-0 advantageAmorim still not confident ahead of the second legCriticised league form since his arrivalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Amorim is drawing on recent lessons as a guide for how his squad must approach the return leg against the Basque side despite holding a healthy 3-0 advantage. In the previous round against Lyon, United squandered a two-goal lead at home before snatching a dramatic victory through a late Harry Maguire header. Amorim is aware of how quickly a tie can turn.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT AMORIM SAID
"If you look at our team, we cannot say today what is going to happen," said Amorim, on the eve of the European tie.
"Some teams, the story is going to be like this and control the narrative – we cannot do that. I feel we need to score to go to the next round. Then we use Brentford, we are near a draw then we suffer a goal and another one. We will have to suffer a bit to go to the final, and we are ready to suffer. Sometimes during the game we are one team and then we lose our mind a little bit."
Explaining how every small detail can hurt their fortunes, Amorim added: "If you look at our season, anything is possible. We have to understand one goal can change anything: the momentum of the game, one sending-off, you saw it a week ago. We are fighting to win the game. We are thinking about winning the game."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
United’s form in the Premier League has been troubling, with their weekend defeat to Brentford marking their 16th league loss of the season — the most the club has suffered in a league campaign in 35 years. Amorim didn’t shy away from addressing their domestic struggles and how that contrasts with their European ambitions.
"You look at the Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results," he admitted. "That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title. So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
The Europa League has become United’s lifeline to salvage what has been a deeply disappointing season. With Thursday’s showdown fast approaching, Amorim’s message is clear: United must remain vigilant, focused, and committed to finishing the job. A place in the Europa League final — and potentially next season’s Champions League — is within reach, but only if the team avoid the mental lapses that have plagued their season.
