Manchester United Survive Early Scare to Book Europa League Final Spot

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United are headed to the Europa League final, but the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story of a tense, uneven performance at Old Trafford.

Carrying a 3-0 advantage from the first leg, Ruben Amorim’s side looked like they might cruise through. Instead, they conceded early, wobbled under pressure, and only took control after a wave of second-half substitutions brought energy and clarity.

The final 4-1 result — and 7-1 on aggregate — secured United’s place in the final against Tottenham Hotspur on May 21. But the road there showed why the Europa League is more necessity than bonus for a team still searching for its identity.

Early Panic, Late Comfort

Athletic Club arrived missing key players but struck first in stunning fashion. Mikel Jaureguizar, the 21-year-old sensation, fired a long-range stunner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead on the night and silence the home crowd.

United failed to generate rhythm. Alejandro Garnacho missed a gilt-edged chance before halftime, and the midfield continued to surrender space until Amorim rang the changes.

On came Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, and Mason Mount. The result was immediate.

Mount equalized in the 70th minute, receiving a clever ball on the edge of the box, turning sharply, and firing low past the keeper. From there, the dam broke. Casemiro and Rasmus Højlund added goals, and Mount chipped in a stoppage-time finisher to cap off a result that felt far more straightforward than the first hour had suggested.

Amorim: “We Have So Many Weaknesses”

Post-match, manager Ruben Amorim was unusually blunt.

“We have so many weaknesses, and you can see that in the game,” he said. “But we are fighting… We deserve to be in the final.”

Amorim credited the substitutes for shifting momentum but acknowledged the bigger picture: Manchester United remain a flawed side, leaning heavily on individual quality and late bursts of urgency.

“We needed more energy,” he said. “We needed to keep the ball. That’s what changed.”

Final Showdown with Tottenham Looms

The final in Dublin on May 21 will be far from a glamour tie in terms of league position. Both Spurs and United are stranded in midtable, but the stakes are enormous. The winner not only lifts silverware but secures a Champions League berth and the revenue boost that comes with it.

“The money is not the most important,” Amorim insisted. “It’s that feeling we can do good things. If you don’t win, it’s nothing.”

After another uneven performance, the mission is simple: win the final, return to the Champions League — and start laying the foundation for something more sustainable.

For now, survival will do. Salvation, though, is still 90 minutes away.