Manchester United kept their season alive with an impressive display against Athletic Club that has given them a three goal lead to protect in the second leg of the Europa League semi final this coming Thursday.
Ruben Amorim’s men are expected to progress to the showpiece occasion and are on course to meet Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
Ange Postecoglou’s side take a two goal advantage to Norway and are favourites to get past the competition’s surprise package Bodo/Glimt to secure their ticket to Bilbao.
Both teams have suffered domestically this season, leaving them desperate for European glory to save wretched league campaigns.
Should both teams make it, preparations will be key and United appeared to hold an early advantage with their Premier League fixture prior to final scheduled for Friday 16th May with the final on the 21st.
Spurs were set to face Aston Villa on Sunday 18th, which would have given United over 48 hours more time to get set for the crunch game.
However, as reported by BBC Sport, the Premier League have announced Tottenham will now play Villa on the same day United welcome Chelsea, wiping out the extra prep time.
It was always unlikely that United or Spurs will field strong teams with the final on the horizon but both managers now have the same opportunity to fine tune their respective squads.
However, there is still a job to do for the Premier League duo with both Athletic Club and Bodo/Glimt harboring dreams of historic comebacks to pinch a pass to the final.
United have home advantage on Thursday night and would need a monumental collapse to give up their lead that they could have added to in the first leg.
Casemiro’s header and Bruno Fernandes double all came in the first half last week and with the Basque side down to ten men, United could have came back to Manchester with more than three.
Amorim’s side have been susceptible to giving up goals this season but will surely have enough about them to see off the La Liga side who are the lowest scorers in the top seven of Spain’s top flight.
A mouthwatering final awaits if both sides keep their head this week and Amorim will be desperate to end his first season at United with a trophy which will transform the confidence in his side and grant them a place in next years coveted Champions League.
Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
