Harry Maguire knows that Manchester United has “one foot” in the Europa League final, but he insisted on his teammates to end the track in the second stage at Old Trafford.
United produced a brilliant display to send 10-man Athletico Bilbao 3-0 in their collision on the first legs on Thursday, with the hosts sent Dani Vivian in the first half.
Vivian's resignation came after Casemiro led the Red Devils in the lead before Captain Bruno Fernandes sealed the victory with two strikes for the break, the first of which came from the penalty spot.
United did indeed score three goals in the first half in a knock-out phase road competition in a major European competition for the first time since the quarterfinals of 1965-66 European Cup.
Their advantage of three goals was also their biggest lead for half -time, away from home in general, because they were in the FA Cup in the FA Cup in the FA Cup in the FA Cup in January 2020.
United became the 133rd team that won the first stage of a UEFA Cup/Europa League Knock -Out stage with three or more goals away from home, with all those parties that progressed and won the draw.
But despite the Ruben Amorim team that absorbs United's biggest victory in a semi -final of a major European competition, Maguire was not dragged along.
“It is more important to win. It was a clinical first half, a professional second half. It is ultimately a great victory, but next week a big game,” Maguire said.
“All the pressure is on us now, everyone will expect that we will be in the final.
“So next Thursday we have to make sure that we prepare ourselves as we did in this game, and if we do that, we give ourselves a great opportunity to make the final.
“It was a great evening for us, a foot in the final, but it is still not done.”
Benefit united! #MUFC || #Uel
– Manchester United (@manutd) May 1, 2025
The success of the Red Devils in Europe has been a complete contrast with their Premier League form, whereby the club Kwijnts in 14th place.
United has indeed won more competitions in the Europa League (seven in nine games) under Amorim than in the top flight (six in 23 games).
They have also scored only three fewer goals among the Portuguese coach in the European competition (24) than in the competition (27).
Amorim, however, reflected Maguire's comments in his assessment after the game, and quoted Vivian's shipping as an important moment in the game in San Mames.
“The result is really good, but we have to understand the result at the same time,” Amorim told TNT Sports.
“We struggled a lot in the beginning and shipping changed the game.
“Every game can change with one situation. We had the opportunity to score one more. This was not done and they can do the same at Old Trafford.
“They are really strong and intense. We must be prepared. Manuel Ugarte was, with a lot of experience, a little nervous. Patrick [Dorgu] Was nervous.
“Players such as Casemiro, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes help a lot.”