Excellent reserve cards
Amorim once asked: “Which United will play today?” – And he received two answers. A tedious, slow and mistaken team in the first half; And an explosive, inspiring and sharp team in the second half, ending with a super product from 50m of Mason Mount reminds of David Beckham.
When everything seemed to be sliding from his hand, Man United suddenly got up, and Mount – a £ 55 million contract – first scored at Old Trafford after nearly two years, did it with a destructive performance. “Sometimes you sit on the bench, but you can change the game,” Amorim shared after the match.
Amad Diallo was also launched at the same time and he created Rasmus Hojlund to have the easiest goal in his career. Earlier, Casemiro opened the score with a header from the free kick from Bruno Fernandes – similar to the goal he scored in the first leg in San Mames. Calculated, Man United scored 4 goals in just 19 minutes at Old Trafford.
Athletic Bilbao, like Lyon in the previous round, was the team that opened the score on Old Trafford. Mikel Jaureguizar had a third goal for the club with a beautiful heart in the far corner. But the mistake of Harry Maguire, lost the ball right in front of the penalty area, created conditions for this situation – to overshadow his excellent assist in the first leg.
Despite losing, Bilbao still deserves praise. A team is destroyed by injury and suspension: they do not have Dani Vivian, Oihan Sancet, Inaki Williams and Nico Williams. However, they still played pressing violently for the first 60 minutes, causing Man United to have times like to crumpled.
Coach Ernesto Valverde, who once suffered a terrible backward with Barca at Anfield (lost 0–4 after winning 3–0 first leg), almost had a “hatred”, but then witnessed his team conceding 4 goals on the UK again. “Both matches are much more intense than what the score shows,” Amorim admitted.
Amorim’s rotation strategy
Faced with the risk of being eliminated, Amorim has strongly adjusted: Tung Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo and Mason Mount into the field, and pulling Fernandes back to stone in midfield. With the full squad, Amorim really “played chess” – what Valverde of Bilbao could not. “I should be a better coach at the beginning of the match, but at least I reacted in time,” Amorim said frankly.
Mount’s double has shown the value of the squad depth – which makes Man United different from Bilbao. The second goal was a shot from afar into the blank goal after the silly mistake of goalkeeper Julen Aguirrezabala.
Fernandes and Casemiro – two experienced pillars – each scoring 2 goals in both matches, showing that they were “the one who brought Man United to the final”.
“Without winning the title, all will be meaningless,” Amorim said. The Champions League dream seemed to have shattered for a long time, now fluttering again with Man United – the team has not lost any match in Europe this season.
And if he passed Tottenham – the opponent won them 3 times this season but ranked under the Premier League – then a pathetic season could end with a title and ticket to the Champions League next season for MU.
