Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that Athletic Bilbao will be “a strong team with a strong identity” despite the fact that the Basque outfit will be missing some hugely important players on Thursday.
The Red Devils are in a commanding position in their Europa League semi-final tie, having recorded a 3-0 victory at San Mames last week.
The second leg of the last-four contest will take place on Thursday at Old Trafford, and Athletic have travelled to Manchester without their three leading goalscorers this season.
Indeed, Oihan Sancet, Inaki Williams and Nico Williams are all unavailable for selection, with the La Liga club missing three players who have found the back of the net on 39 occasions between them this term.
Dani Vivian is suspended, meanwhile, following his red card in the first leg, so it will be a significantly weaker XI to the one that took to the field for the first leg of the semi-final at San Mames.
Sancet, Nico Williams, Inaki Williams are absent for Athletic
However, Amorim refused to say that it would be a more straightforward task for his team on Thursday, with the Portuguese insisting that full concentration is required in order to complete the job.
“It doesn’t matter. For us, it doesn’t matter. We need to go to the game. It is a final for us and we need to go to it to win the game,” Amorim told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the Athletic absentees.
“The idea of Athletic will not change, but the characteristics of the players will change, and that is important for us to know. It is going to be a strong team with a strong identity.”
Man United have struggled in the Premier League this season, picking up just 39 points from their 35 matches, which has left them down in 15th spot in the table.
There has been criticism of the fact that a team that has found it so difficult domestically could secure Champions League football for next season, with the winner of the Europa League qualifying for the leading competition.
In response to a question on that criticism, Amorim said: “I just know the rules. If people want to change the rules, by all means. But these are the rules and the rules are that you win the Europa League, you go to the Champions League, so we will follow the rules.
“I don’t think a lot about it. I know that the Champions League is for the champions or the best team in the leagues. We are just following the rules.”
Amorim: “We can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title”
Amorim famously said in January that this side might be the “worst team” in Man United’s history.
“I think you have to see the quotes in the moment, so things can change. If you look to the Premier League, since I arrive, we are the worst team since I arrived,” the Portuguese added during Wednesday’s press conference.
“At the end of this season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title. This season has been really disappointing for everyone, but nothing is going to change. In that moment, sometimes I have to think a little bit more.”
Should Man United navigate their way through the semi-final tie against Athletic, then the Red Devils will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt in the final of the Europa League on May 21.
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