Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts on Manchester United's Europa League semi-final first leg win at Athletic Bilbao.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: Nights like this are why some people like myself still have hope in United. Great performance and Harry Maguire, what a display. This season he has defended, scored and showed his skills. He has definitely done his part in Europe. Great performance from the captain Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro has been much better this season.

Sandip: Where has my team been all season? We rode our luck but we were always a threat. I will be at Old Trafford next Thursday to see us get the job done (I hope).

Andy: Outstanding display by United. I have been the first, and most vocal, to criticise both the players and the club over recent years. I stand by that criticism. We have a lot of hard work ahead to get back to peak performance. Nonetheless, this was an excellent result. And, off the back of the Miracle of Old Trafford just a few days ago, we must now see ourselves as real favourites to lift this trophy.

Iain: A nervy opening 15 minutes, but settled down with a turn and a cross from Maguirinho. Casemiro seems to have found his place in the Europa League, using his vast experience to guide the team through. Almost to a man, the team played well for the rest of the match. We should bring on - from 60 minutes onwards - more kids against Brentford [on Sunday]. This tie isn't quite over but things are looking up now.

Sanj: United were wonderful. If only they could play with such purpose in the Premier League!

Bernard: At last a team performance. It was the best we've played this season. Now we have to finish the job and that includes against Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt.

Image source, Getty Images

Since the Europa League was rebranded in 2009-2010, no team to play in the final or win the competition has finished lower than 12th in their domestic league.

Manchester United are currently 14th and Tottenham are 16th in the Premier League.

In addition, since 2014-15 winning the Europa League has meant a place in the following season's Champions League competition.

Sevilla two seasons ago were the lowest domestic team (12th) to do that.

Image source, Getty Images

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson declared Manchester United's performance against Athletic Bilbao as "the best under Ruben Amorim" after they won 3-0 in their Europa League semi-final first leg.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "They were excellent - granted they were playing against 10 men - but they still had to do a job. From that point Manchester United completely controlled the game.

"There's no way a team of Manchester United's stature should lose 15 games in a Premier League season. When things like that happen, criticism will come but there's no way you can criticise them for the way they've played in this Europa League.

"They're still the only team unbeaten in the Europa League. If only they played on a Thursday night every night."

Ex-Tottenham and Aston Villa winger Andros Townsend agreed, stating United were already starting to exert their authority when Athletic had a man sent off.

"Bilbao started the game the better and it was only when Casemiro gave United the lead that the tide turned," said Townsend.

"The game had turned just before the red card happened. Manchester United learned the lesson that they almost suffered against Lyon. There were no risks - a very professional performance."

Image source, Express and Mirror

That was more like it!

Manchester United took a big step towards reaching the Europa League final with a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in Spain.

Captain Bruno Fernandes starred, scoring twice, to give United a healthy lead going into the second-leg at Old Trafford next week.

It is the Portuguese international that features on many of Friday's newspaper back pages as, once again, he stepped up when it mattered most.

Manager Ruben Amorim has however warned against complacency, stating: "I think they have to think about the second leg.

"And they have to think more about the first 20 minutes than the rest of the game because the game is going to be really tough.

"There is no away goals so anything can change and that is my message to the players, and we have to think now about Brentford and then the second leg."

Manchester United are considering a move for Germany centre-back Jonathan Tah, 29, in the summer after his contract expires at Bayer Leverkusen. (Sky Sports), external

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old French forward Enzo Kana-Biyik from Le Havre. (Fabrizio Romano, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes spoke to TNT Sports after scoring twice at Athletic Bilbao: "You can never predict a scoreline like that. Very tough team - the atmosphere was crazy. I knew they were very passionate, but never knew it was like this.

"The result for us was unbelievable. We should have pushed a bit more in that second half, but we controlled the game and that is good."

On his goal involvements: after taking his total to 27 in the Europa League, joint third with Romelu Lukaku: "I knew I was around the 30s, but I didn't know how much exactly. It is a big part of my game and I need to take that responsibility. The club bought me because I scored 32 goals in a season.

"Sporting is a massive club, but United is a global club. [It is] unbelievable the attention and pressure we get.

"I feel the pressure. That's the good thing about football and that's what we have to enjoy. When I finish my career, that will go away and I will be much more relaxed.

"When I die I will have a lot of time to lay down with myself!"

Did you know?

• Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34) and Radamel Falcao (30) have more goals in the Europa League than Bruno Fernandes

• United's captain is also the joint leader for assists alongside Dries Mertens with 18

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim spoke to TNT Sports after beating Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final first leg: "The result is really good, but we have to understand the result at the same time.

"We struggled a lot at the beginning and the sending off changed the game. Any game can change with one situation. We had an opportunity to score one more. This is not done and they can do the same at Old Trafford.

"They're really strong and intense. We need to be prepared."

On the second leg: "Of course we are have an advantage. We have our fans, but again this could change.Anything can happen in one game.

"We need to be really careful with our players against Brentford. Noussair Mazraoui is dead, Patrick Dorgu is tired... we have to manage the players."

On Harry Maguire's influence on the first goal and on the entire performance: "He's a good winger!

"Sometimes there are moments in our life and Harry has had difficult moments. Everything he does is good for the team, so we have to enjoy."

Did you know?

• Manchester United have now won more games in the Europa League (seven) under Amorim than in the Premier League (six).

• United have also scored only three goals fewer under the Portuguese manager in European competition (24) than in the league (27) despite playing 14 fewer games in Europe (nine against 23).

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire spoke to TNT Sports after Manchester United's victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final first leg:

"The first 20 minutes were difficult, the crowd were super loud and the intensity was high. We made a few errors and we looked a little bit nervous at times.

"I thought the lads grew into the game really well. We weathered the storm, we knew we'd get our chances and we were really clinical in that first half. The tie isn't done - we'll be focused and ready at Old Trafford next Thursday and I'm sure Old Trafford will be like this place."

On his involvement in the first goal for which he has been dubbed 'Harrydinho' on social media: "I found myself attacking the back post. It was nice to do a bit of dribbling and put in a great cross. We had a lot of bodies in the box and they must've trusted me to put in the cross. It was a nice feeling and it was great header in the end.

"It's more important [that United got] the win. It was a clinical first half and a professional second half. It's a great victory in the end but another big game next week.

"All the pressure is on us now. Everyone will expect us to get into the final, so next Thursday we need to make sure we prepare like we've done in this game. If we do, we give ourselves a great opportunity to make the final. It's been a great night for us, one foot in the final but it's still not done."

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Whenever Manchester United have needed their captain most, Bruno Fernandes has stepped up.

The Portugal midfielder helped ensure Ruben Amorim's side have one foot in the Europa League final with two goals in a hugely impressive 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

But it was the timing of his goals that were crucial.

His first was from the penalty spot. With Manchester United 1-0 up thanks to Casemiro's opener, a second would put them in a commanding position but a penalty miss would provide a huge motivational boost for Athletic Bilbao.

However, despite the huge noise made by the home fans at San Mames Stadium, Fernandes drowned it all out to coolly fire home the spot kick.

His second - a calm finish when one-on-one effectively ended the home side's hopes of staging a comeback and ensures Manchester United go into the second leg next week in the strongest possible position.

Granted, Athletic Bilbao played more than 45 minutes of this game with 10 men so the tie is not over yet, but Fernandes showed that when he is needed he can be counted on and he and his team-mates will be determined to finish the job at Old Trafford.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on United's display

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

Three English teams feature in Thursday's Europa League and Conference League semi-finals, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

Europa League

• Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham Hotspur v Bodo/Glimt - BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Conference League

• Djurgarden v Chelsea

• Real Betis v Fiorentina

All kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Alex Turk
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United travel to Spain as underdogs.

They are 14th in the Premier League, while Athletic Bilbao sit fourth in La Liga.

However, the Red Devils have a track record of turning up in a high-pressure match to save their season.

Take last season's FA Cup final. Not many people on the planet gave United a chance to defeat Manchester City at Wembley.

Erik ten Hag's likely sack dominated the build-up, with his side rotting in eighth in the league before pulling off a historic 2-1 victory.

It was a win so powerful that United's decision-makers forgot the troubles across the several months prior, keeping Ten Hag in his post.

Without that FA Cup glory, United would not be in the Europa League semi-finals and just two ties away from a return to the Champions League.

That feels surreal to say in a campaign where they have lost 15 league matches.

Athletic's superiority complicates things, but United must believe they can upset the odds in May for a second straight year.

Next season, Ruben Amorim will be under instant pressure to improve results after a dismal start to his reign. If United keep losing games throughout the first few months of the campaign, his tenure could be short-lived.

Winning the Europa League would put credit in the bank, though. The Champions League football that comes with it would not only boost his summer budget, it would solidify his authority.

And United will have further reason to believe they can progress. Of all the teams to have competed in Uefa's three major competitions this season, they alone are unbeaten - and after 12 games too.

That is the mission in Spain. Avoid defeat and finish the job at Old Trafford, just as they did against Real Sociedad and Lyon.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Only Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Osasuna have beaten Athletic Bilbao at San Mames this season.

Add to that the prospect of a final at their own stadium and you create quite a formidable opponent.

That is the size of the task facing Manchester United tonight.

The Basque Country may only have 3.1m inhabitants, but the team from its biggest city boast a squad full of talent.

Despite top scorer Oihan Sancet missing the match through injury, England fans will remember Nico Williams, who scored the opening goal in last summer's European Championship final and has netted in the previous two knockout rounds.

On the opposite wing is brother, Inaki. A player whose pace and dribbling has seen plenty of Europe's top clubs chase him throughout his career.

And that is just their attack.

Bilbao have the best defence in La Liga, conceding just 26 goals so far this season.

Ruben Amorim's side have almost doubled that total in the Premier League, shipping 47 and having a negative goal difference.

United's goalkeeper struggles have been well documented this campaign but their opponents have had no such issues.

Both Unai Simon and Julen Agirrezabala have performed well for Bilbao with 12 clean sheets between them in their 30 league appearances.

• Not a United fan? Find and follow your club here

Also within that backline is captain Oscar de Marcos, who scored when Bilbao knocked United out of the Europa League at the last-16 stage in 2012.

That tie was one of many Spanish struggles for United.

According to Opta, United's past six eliminations from the knockout stages of major European competition have come against Spanish sides.

In fact, their win rate against teams from Spain is the worst out of any country at 31%.

So Thursday's game is probably more difficult than many anticipate.

Manchester United fan Tom Mortimer believes the Red Devils are "destined" to win the Europa League this season - but says Athletic Bilbao will be feeling "exactly the same" going into their Europa League semi-final tie.

Speaking on The Football News Show, Tom said: "The final is in Bilbao and Athletic Club are one game away from it, so I think United will have to play at a level we have maybe not reached so far under Ruben Amorim.

"We have been good in Europe this season, but Athletic are a different beast."

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

The day is finally here.

There is plenty at stake for Manchester United on Thursday, and potentially for fans who have already booked for the final later this month.

As you can see, Ian is soaking up the sun in Spain, but what about the rest of you?

Are you at the game tonight? Or are you elsewhere but getting ready for it?

Send us your photos from Bilbao and beyond