Three sizzling subplots to watch out for ahead of United’s high-stakes clash with Athletic

Manchester United are set to face Athletic Club in the return leg of their Europa League semi-final tie at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.

United head into the match with a healthy 3-0 aggregate lead gained from the first contest at San Mames, but as Ruben Amorim and a number of players have already emphasised, the tie is not done and dusted just yet.

Here are three compelling storylines to watch closely ahead of the clash.

A spot in the final awaits

While the tie isn’t over yet, United certainly have one foot in the final and it would take a dramatic collapse for them to let it slip away at this point.

It’s been a dismal Premier League campaign for the Red Devils, who currently sit 15th in the table. A top-half finish now looks out of reach, yet Amorim’s side still has an opportunity to salvage the season by lifting the Europa League trophy.

Winning the Europa League would not only add another trophy to United’s cabinet but also secure a return to the Champions League. The financial boost from Europe’s top competition could transform their transfer window and significantly enhance their appeal to prospective signings.

Speaking in his press conference on Wednesday, Amorim said about this, “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.”

“So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment, I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years.”

In the final, United could meet either Tottenham Hotspur or FK Bodø/Glimt, with Spurs currently holding a 3-1 advantage in their semi-final tie.

United also hold a slight advantage, having already played at San Mamés, which is the venue for the upcoming final.

New tifo banner

United are pulling out all the stops to create another iconic Old Trafford atmosphere on Thursday, with the club announcing that a new tifo banner is being prepared to rally the fans.

United confirmed that the exact design of the tifo banner will not be revealed until the night, to preserve the impact of the moment.

The initiative is a collaborative effort between the club and fan groups, with captain Bruno Fernandes giving his final approval. The banner will be placed on the halfway line, in front of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, and will be raised from the ground to the roof, accompanied by vibrant pyrotechnics lighting up the sky on either side.

You’ve been asking 👀

A new tifo has been approved by @B_Fernandes8 and will be unveiled before Thursday’s #UEL semi-final second leg at Old Trafford 🙌#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 6, 2025

This will mark only the second time a tifo banner graces the Theatre of Dreams.

Alejandro Garnacho eyeing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record

Garnacho’s superb strike in Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at Brentford marked his 24th goal involvement for United. This is just one away from matching Ronaldo’s tally before reaching the age of 21.

The Argentine won’t turn 21 until July 1, giving him a great chance to surpass Ronaldo’s tally, which the five-time Ballon d’Or winner achieved after joining United from Sporting CP in 2003.

Asked about this on Wednesday, Garnacho played down the comparisons to Ronaldo, insisting that his full focus is on helping the team get over the line against Athletic.

However, there’s every likelihood that Garnacho has his sights set on the achievement, as it would place him on par with his football idol.

United vs. Athletic kicks off at 20:00 BST.

Featured image Clive Brunskill via Getty Images

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