Man Utd 4-1 Athletic Club (7-1 agg): 4 talking points as Mount stars in thumping victory

Manchester United have booked a date with Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final after beating Athletic Club 4-1 at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils boasted an impressive three-goal cushion from last week's semi-final first leg but Mikel Jauregizar's excellent opener had the home fans fearing an unthinkable comeback at half-time.

But those worries were allayed with four goals in 19 second-half minutes for United, with efforts from Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund sandwiched in between wonderful goals from Mason Mount.

How the game unfolded

The merry Old Trafford crowd were in exceptional voice from the first minute but there was little action on the pitch to further raise decibels during the opening exchanges. Athletic, without their best forwards, were unable to muster any devastating sequences, while United's attacking spark was almost entirely absent.

Bruno Fernandes, as is often the case, looked United's most likely route to an opener and the skipper's through ball forced the first moment of drama in Manchester. Patrick Dorgu collected the pass and burst into the penalty area before tangling with Andoni Gorosabel, but a spot kick was not forthcoming following a brief VAR check.

United's sleepy start offered the visitors some much-needed encouragement and Jauregizar took full advantage just after the half-hour mark. The midfielder capitalised on an errant pass from Harry Maguire and bent an exquisite effort into the top corner from 25 yards to offer the Basque side a glimmer of hope.

Comeback dreams were almost extinguished before the break, however, as Alejandro Garnacho raced clean through on goal. The 20-year-old, who scored in defeat at Brentford last time out, delicately dinked over Julen Agirrezabala but his attempt rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

Athletic made a confident start to the second period and applied near constant pressure to the United goal. Fortunately for the hosts, Ernesto Valverde's side struggled to carve open many clear-cut opportunities, although Unai Nunez headed inches wide of Andre Onana's goal shortly after the hour mark.

There remained a sense that United, still unbeaten in Europe this season, needed an equaliser to ease any nerves and substitute Mount provided one in emphatic fashion. Reminiscent of a 17-year-old Federico Macheda's iconic strike for the Red Devils in 2009, the midfielder turned effortlessly inside the penalty area before curling a pinpoint finish into the far corner. Then the floodgates opened.

Casemiro converted a near-post free kick from Fernandes to complete the turnaround and enhance the party atmosphere inside Old Trafford, with the much-maligned Hojlund getting in on the act several minutes later as he tapped home from close range.

Things got just that little bit worse for the forlorn Athletic in stoppage-time, too, with an error from Agirrezabala presenting Mount with an open goal, a gift the Englishman gratefully accepted as he fired into an empty net from 50 yards out to round off a thrilling comeback win for the home side.

Player ratings

Check out the player ratings from Man Utd 4-1 Athletic Club here.

United produce more Europa magic

It's been a campaign of woe, disappointment and uncertainty for the Red Devils, but they have found safe refuge in the Europa League. Their disastrous domestic performances have been set to one side on Thursday nights, with their best showings under Ruben Amorim consistently saved for continental opposition.

United ensured they didn't need to deliver a dazzling display at Old Trafford to reach the showpiece fixture following their first leg exploits, an attitude they evidently embraced based on their limp first-half display. Uninspiring in the final third and nervous defensively, it was a performance more fitting of their Premier League campaign.

Things were not rosy during the first 25 minutes of the second-half either, but another chaotic finish at Old Trafford ensured United reached the final in style. Four quick-fire goals had the home crowd roaring with delight - even if the end scoreline flattered the hosts - and provided supporters with another memorable evening in the Europa League.

Substitutions make the difference

Amorim resisted the temptation to make changes at the half-time interval following a disappointing performance from his players, but by the hour mark he could wait no longer. Mount, Amad Diallo and Luke Shaw were all introduced and United's improvement was immediate.

Mount supplied a sublime goal to spark the turnaround and breathe new life into a team that had earlier failed to inspire. The midfielder, who was also on target at the weekend, proceeded to produce another exceptional finish to put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.

Amad also made an enormous impact from the bench and his timely return from injury will be key to United lifting the Europa League. One of his first actions was to burst beyond an Athletic defender and into the penalty area, swiftly lifting morale on the pitch and in the stands. The Ivorian's assist for Hojlund was the kind of service the striker has been lacking this season.

In the end, it was far from United's best display of the term, but they were simply unplayable in the closing 20 minutes. That shift in dynamic was down to Amorim making the right substitutions at the perfect moment.

Injuries prove costly for Athletic

Athletic's assignment was nigh on impossible. They knew they needed to conjure up the most remarkable of European comebacks to progress and their unenviable task was made even more challenging by the absence of their three leading forwards.

Euro 2024 star Nico Williams and brother Inaki Williams were both missing through injury, while attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet was also absent with a foot issue. The trio have managed 58 goals and assists between them in all competitions this term, while Athletic's starting front four at Old Trafford have produced just 22 - only four of which had come in Europe.

Athletic produced an admirable attacking display considering their list of crucial absentees but lacked the polish and pace in the final third to truly expose United's nerves. With the Williams brothers and Sancet in the starting lineup, things could have been significantly different.

Familiar opposition to come

There will be no uncertainty for United when it comes to their opponents in the upcoming final. Tottenham Hotspur, who triumphed over Bodo/Glimt in the other semi-final, lie in wait for Amorim's men in a fixture that has already been played three times this season. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, they have lost all three.

United's disappointing record against Spurs extends further back. They have failed to win any of the past six duels and Ange Postecoglou remains unbeaten against the Red Devils. Even with Tottenham's track record of choking on the grandest stage - they are without silverware in 17 years - the Lilywhites cannot be underestimated.

An all-English final will be a joy to behold for the neutral but United may have preferred foreign opposition for the biggest match of their season.

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