United are going to Bilbao!

United are going to Bilbao!

Monday 19 May 2025 15:59

The Manchester United squad have been excitedly previewing Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Whether it’s their first appearance in the showpiece event or a return trip, our Reds are fully focused on the game in Bilbao and can’t wait to get going.

Ahead of the trip, we spoke to seven of them about the occasion, our opponents and returning to San Mames, where we beat Athletic Club in the semi-final earlier this month.

Watch the video below to see what they said and scroll further down for a selection of the best quotes from the likes of Amad, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo…

AMAD

“I think the mood is positive. We know we are in the final, so we have to be positive and then try to go in the game with good vibes and try to do our best.

“We know we already lost three times against them this season, so we have to respect them. Obviously, we know they’re not really doing really good in the Premier League like us, but we have to respect them because they’re a really good team. So, we will prepare, we will prepare the game very good with the manager. And then we will play the final as a final.

“I think a club like United has to play [in the] Champions League every year. It’s a big club: it deserves to play in Europe every year. We know that if we win this trophy, we’ll play Champions League next season, so we will try to give the best possible to win this trophy.”

PATRICK CHINAZAEKPERE DORGU

“We want to win. We want to win a trophy. And for me, it’s my first final. So of course, it’s an excitement to play your first final and hopefully to win it as well.”

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN

“I think everyone is excited. We’ve been on a long run to get to the final and had some good games on the way. So yeah, it’s going to be the perfect end for our Europa League campaign to go in the final.”

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO

“I’m very, very excited. You know, this week will be very, very long. I just want to play the game. I don’t care if I score or not. I just need to win the game and then celebrate with the fans and the family.

“We know the stadium. We know everything, you know. So I think that will help a little bit, but then it’s a final and everything can happen. So we’ll see.”

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VICTOR LINDELOF

“It’s a good mood. I think everyone is looking forward to it. It’s a European final and everyone is very excited to be a part of that.

“It’s a tough opponent. They’ve had a tough season as well, but they have quality players and if they perform at a high level it’s going to be very hard. But it’s going to be a good game hopefully.”

KOBBIE MAINOO

“To make the Europa League final, it’s obviously a big achievement in football – one of the biggest. We’re just going to have to be fully focused and try our best to win the game.

“This is obviously going to be a tough game. We’ve come up against them obviously many times and it’s always a tough game, so you just have to be locked in up until the game. And then try and smash it.

“The Champions League is one of the trophies every player dreams of being involved in and fighting for. So that’s definitely another light at the end of the tunnel for us.”

ANDRE ONANA

“For me it’s a big honour. A big privilege. My first final was against Manchester United in the Europa League, when I was still at Ajax. So being in this final again, but with Manchester United this time, it’s just wonderful for me.

“We already know the stadium, when we faced [Athletic Club de] Bilbao. It’s a very nice stadium, with a strong atmosphere. We won there and that’s what we went there for. So we’re going back there really excited, and hopefully we come back with a win again.

“It’s been a very difficult season for all of us. And it’s a learning time for all of us because for some of us maybe it’s the first time to face something like this in their whole career, but we have another big opportunity, so we have to take it. And this game will not save the season, but at least we’ll give some joy to the fans.”

United are going to Bilbao!