{"id":9642,"date":"2025-05-08T02:14:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T02:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=9642"},"modified":"2025-05-08T02:14:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T02:14:28","slug":"can-united-save-their-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/can-united-save-their-season","title":{"rendered":"Can Manchester United save their season?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><p>It\u2019s May 8, 2025, and Old Trafford is buzzing like it\u2019s 1999, well, sort of. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/manchester-united-105\">Manchester United<\/a>, a club mired in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\">Premier League<\/a> campaign so dire it\u2019s made fans nostalgic for David Moyes, are on the cusp of something extraordinary. After a stunning 3-0 first-leg win over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/athletic-bilbao-144\">Athletic Club<\/a> in Bilbao, R\u00faben Amorim\u2019s Red Devils are one match away from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-europa-league-573\">Europa League<\/a> final &#8211; a potential lifeline to salvage a season that\u2019s been more horror show than fairy tale. <\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><p>Tonight\u2019s second leg at the Theatre of Dreams is do-or-die, and if United can hold their nerve and punch their ticket to Bilbao for the final, could a trophy rewrite the narrative? Let\u2019s dive into the drama, the stakes, and whether lifting the Europa League could truly be called a success for a club that\u2019s spent the year tripping over its own legacy.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Manchester United could do with a trophy under Ruben Amorim<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-bilbao-blueprint-a-first-leg-masterclass\">The Bilbao Blueprint: A First-Leg Masterclass<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#old-traffords-big-night-the-second-leg-showdown\">Old Trafford\u2019s Big Night: The Second Leg Showdown<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-final-frontier-bilbao-beckons\">The Final Frontier: Bilbao Beckons<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#defining-success-trophy-or-tragedy\">Defining Success: Trophy or Tragedy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-bigger-picture-amorims-long-game\">The Bigger Picture: Amorim\u2019s Long Game<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-verdict-salvation-or-consolation\">The Verdict: Salvation or Consolation?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-bilbao-blueprint-a-first-leg-masterclass\">The Bilbao Blueprint: A First-Leg Masterclass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand the magnitude of tonight\u2019s second leg, we need to rewind to May 1 at San Mam\u00e9s, where United delivered what many are calling their performance of the season. Facing an Athletic Club side that hadn\u2019t lost a European home game all year, United didn\u2019t just win &#8211; they dominated. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/harry-maguire-4294\">Harry Maguire<\/a>, of all people, turned into prime Cafu, marauding down the right to set up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/casemiro-3434\">Casemiro\u2019s<\/a> opening header. Then, a controversial VAR decision saw Athletic\u2019s Dani Vivian sent off for a tug on Rasmus H\u00f8jlund, handing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/bruno-fernandes-6262\">Bruno Fernandes<\/a> a penalty he coolly dispatched. Before halftime, Fernandes struck again, racing through to make it 3-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Against Athletic\u2019s vaunted defence, they were clinical, exploiting the extra second of space that, as Manuel Ugarte noted, makes Europe feel less suffocating than the Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That 3-0 lead is a fortress, but history whispers caution. Athletic\u2019s Ernesto Valverde, who once saw his Barcelona side squander a 3-0 first-leg lead against Liverpool, knows comebacks aren\u2019t impossible. United\u2019s task tonight is simple: don\u2019t implode. With Vivian suspended and Athletic potentially missing Oihan Sancet and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/nico-williams-86782\">Nico Williams<\/a>, the odds are stacked in United\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Our Super-Sub this week is once again, Oihan Sancet! <br><br>The Spanish star came off the bench in the 46th minute to score 2 goals in Atletico Bilbao&#39;s 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iHh1Lcmdbh\">pic.twitter.com\/iHh1Lcmdbh<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1912083256045916186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 15, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"old-traffords-big-night-the-second-leg-showdown\">Old Trafford\u2019s Big Night: The Second Leg Showdown<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the floodlights blaze and 74,000 fans pack Old Trafford, the atmosphere will be electric. United haven\u2019t lost a Europa League game this season (W8, D5), and their home form in Europe, highlighted by a 5-4 extra-time thriller against Lyon in the quarterfinals, suggests they thrive under pressure. But Amorim isn\u2019t taking chances, resting key players like Fernandes, Casemiro, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/amad-diallo-71851\">Amad<\/a> for the recent 4-3 loss at Brentford to keep them fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The ultimate Europa League drama between Man Utd and Lyon <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IAJDC7d3oP\">pic.twitter.com\/IAJDC7d3oP<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1917490265692033229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 30, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The injury list, though, is a headache. Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt (likely), Lisandro Mart\u00ednez, Joshua Zirkzee, Christian Eriksen, and Ayden Heaven are sidelined, forcing Amorim to lean on youth and grit. Expect Leny Yoro and Victor Lindel\u00f6f to anchor the defense, with Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw (or Patrick Dorgu) providing width. Up top, Rasmus Hojlund, while Amad Diallo\u2019s return from injury, capped by a late strike at Brentford, adds dynamism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/GettyImages-2182926879-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 7:  Amad Diallo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-0 during the UEFA Europa League 2024\/25 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and PAOK FC at Old Trafford on November 7, 2024 in Manchester, England. \" class=\"wp-image-8248\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt &#8211; AMA\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Athletic, meanwhile, are wounded but dangerous. Their 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad showed resilience, but the absence of key attackers like the Williams brothers tilt the scales. \u00c1lex Berenguer, their brightest spark in the first leg, will carry the comeback hopes, but overturning a three-goal deficit without away goals feels like chasing a mirage. History isn\u2019t kind either: all 133 teams that won a Europa League knockout first leg by three or more goals away have advanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assuming United hold firm, they\u2019re through to the final on May 21. The Theatre of Dreams erupts, and social media lights up with \u201cWe\u2019re back!\u201d memes, even if the Premier League table begs to differ. But the real question looms: can a Bilbao final, likely against Tottenham or Bod\u00f8\/Glimt, truly save this season?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-final-frontier-bilbao-beckons\">The Final Frontier: Bilbao Beckons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast-forward to May 21, and United are back in Bilbao\u2019s San Mam\u00e9s for the Europa League final. Let\u2019s assume they face Tottenham, who edged Bod\u00f8\/Glimt 3-1 in their semifinal first leg. An all-Premier League final would be poetic, pitting two underperforming giants\u2014United 15th, Spurs 16th\u2014against each other for a shot at redemption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, create goals but leak more &#8211; 19 losses in the Premier League prove it. United\u2019s high-pressing 3-4-3, honed by Amorim, could suffocate Spurs\u2019 build-up, especially if Maguire keeps channeling his inner wing-back. Picture this: Fernandes curls in a 25-yard free kick, Diallo dances past Pedro Porro to set up H\u00f8jlund, and United win 2-1 in a tense, end-to-end clash. The San Mam\u00e9s crowd, still salty about Athletic\u2019s exit, watches United lift the trophy as red confetti rains down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>United\u2019s Europa League campaign has been a sanctuary. They\u2019ve scored 31 goals in 13 games, almost as many as their 42 in 35 Premier League matches this year. Fernandes is the talisman, his \u201cprime Bruno\u201d form a lifeline. Casemiro, reborn in Europe, anchors the midfield, while Maguire&#8217;s (yes, Maguire) flair and Diallo\u2019s flair could exploit Spurs\u2019 shaky defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winning the Europa League would also secure Champions League qualification\u2014a golden ticket for a club that\u2019s been a mid-table laughingstock. But does silverware and a top-tier return erase the season\u2019s scars? Let\u2019s unpack that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2202342549-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 2: Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United  during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on March 2, 2025 in Manchester, England. \" class=\"wp-image-9646\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt &#8211; AMA\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"defining-success-trophy-or-tragedy\">Defining Success: Trophy or Tragedy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On paper, lifting the Europa League sounds like salvation. United haven\u2019t won a European trophy since 2017. A title in Bilbao would be Amorim\u2019s first as United boss, a statement that his project, despite the Premier League wobbles, is taking root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Amorim himself has downplayed the idea that a Europa League triumph could \u201csave\u201d the season. United\u2019s 16 Premier League losses, a -8 goal difference, and a 15th-place finish (their lowest points tally ever) are a stain that no trophy can fully wash away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Context matters. United\u2019s 2024-25 season has been defined by chaos: Erik ten Hag\u2019s sacking, Amorim\u2019s rocky transition, and a squad plagued by injuries and inconsistency. The Europa League has been their escape hatch, a competition where they\u2019ve looked like the United of old &#8211; confident, clinical, and cohesive. Winning it would prove they can still compete at a high level, especially against a Spurs side that\u2019s no juggernaut. It\u2019s also a psychological boost: Maguire, once a punching bag, is now a cult hero; Fernandes is untouchable; and youngsters like Yoro and Diallo are blossoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, for a club of United\u2019s stature, the Europa League isn\u2019t the Champions League. Sir Alex\u2019s ghost looms large, and finishing below rivals like Liverpool (champions), City (top four), and even Forest stings. A trophy might paper over the cracks, but it doesn\u2019t fix the structural issues: a bloated squad, a weak attack and a lack of Premier League identity. Success, then, is relative. For fans starved of joy, a Bilbao parade would feel like ecstasy. For the Glazers and INEOS, it\u2019s a Band-Aid on a season that\u2019s exposed deeper flaws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"843\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2204951163-1-843x1024.jpg\" alt=\"MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League 2024\/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester United and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Old Trafford on March 13, 2025 in Manchester, England. \" class=\"wp-image-9647\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Carl Recine\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-bigger-picture-amorims-long-game\">The Bigger Picture: Amorim\u2019s Long Game<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond the trophy, the Europa League run is a blueprint for Amorim\u2019s vision. His 3-4-3 system, which thrives in Europe\u2019s slower tempo, has unlocked players like Casemiro and Fernandes, who\u2019ve struggled domestically. The Bilbao first leg showed what United could be: aggressive, adaptable, and lethal. Amorim\u2019s unbeaten European record (W6, D2) is no fluke; it\u2019s a sign he\u2019s building something, even if the Premier League\u2019s intensity has exposed his squad\u2019s limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winning the final would buy Amorim time. United\u2019s board, under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, knows rebuilding takes years, and a trophy in his first season would silence doubters. It also guarantees Champions League revenue, crucial for a club that\u2019s spent big on Yoro, Ugarte, and others. For players, it\u2019s a confidence injection: H\u00f8jlund could become a 20-goal striker; Diallo might eclipse Antony; and Maguire\u2019s redemption arc could inspire a defensive overhaul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the season\u2019s legacy hinges on perspective. If United win, it\u2019s a triumph of resilience &#8211; a \u201cmiracle\u201d that turns a trainwreck into a triumph. If they lose, the Premier League collapse overshadows everything, and Amorim faces a brutal summer rebuild. Either way, the Europa League has given fans something to cheer for, a reminder that United can still dream big, even when the table says otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-verdict-salvation-or-consolation\">The Verdict: Salvation or Consolation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Back to tonight. As the final whistle blows and United celebrate their passage to Bilbao, Old Trafford sings \u201cSweet Caroline\u201d with gusto. The Europa League final awaits, and for a fanbase battered by 16 losses, it\u2019s a lifeline. Winning it would be a success in the same way surviving a shipwreck is\u2014you\u2019re alive, but you\u2019re still soaked. The trophy, the Champions League berth, and the Amorim momentum would make 2024-25 a season to remember for the right reasons, even if the Premier League scars linger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But true salvation? That\u2019s next season\u2019s story. For now, United are one match from turning misery into magic. As Fernandes said after Bilbao, \u201cI love these atmospheres. The result was unbelievable.\u201d If he and his teammates can deliver in the final, United\u2019s season won\u2019t be saved &#8211; but their future could be. So, grab your kalimotxo, raise a glass, and believe: the Red Devils might just pull this off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A historic clash under the lights! ?\ufe0f\u2728 Athletic Club and Manchester United go head-to-head in a thrilling UEFA Europa League semi-final showdown. <br><br>Two legendary clubs battle for a spot in the final. Who will rise to the occasion? \u2694\ufe0f? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6TVvYy70zg\">pic.twitter.com\/6TVvYy70zg<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1917986000954941580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 1, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Nicky Helfgott &#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NickyHelfgott1\"><em>NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\">latest football news<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\"> Premier League news<\/a> on 365Scores!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s May 8, 2025, and Old Trafford is buzzing like it\u2019s 1999, well, sort of. Manchester United, a club mired in a Premier League campaign so dire it\u2019s made fans nostalgic for David Moyes, are on the cusp of something extraordinary. After a stunning 3-0 first-leg win over Athletic Club in Bilbao, R\u00faben Amorim\u2019s Red &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":9645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3380,9],"tags":[2839,3492,1095,3493,320,281,1126,1074,1151,1287,2093,27,2722,13,2717,189,2723,3494,1122,274],"class_list":["post-9642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europa-league","category-soccer","tag-amad-diallo","tag-athletic-club","tag-barcelona","tag-bilbao","tag-bruno-fernandes","tag-casemiro","tag-champions-league","tag-europa-league","tag-harry-maguire","tag-lamine-yamal","tag-leny-yoro","tag-manchester-united","tag-old-trafford","tag-premier-league","tag-rasmus-hojlund","tag-robert-lewandowski","tag-ruben-amorim","tag-san-mames","tag-son-heung-min","tag-tottenham"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9642\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}