- Manchester United lead Athletic Bilbao 3-0 - but Ruben Amorim is fearful
- United have had a terrible Premier League season but are flying in Europe
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Heating Up! Arsenal must acquire immediate impact players to clinch the Premier League title... could Harry Kane be their solution?
Ruben Amorim isn't sure which Manchester United will turn up for the second leg of the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford on Thursday, and admits that sometimes his team 'lose our minds'.
Amorim is attempting to prevent complacency following United’s dominant 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Spain last week.
After witnessing Lyon stage a remarkable comeback from being two goals behind to take a 4-2 lead in the quarter-final at Old Trafford, Harry Maguire headed an injury-time winner, the United boss isn't taking anything for granted.
'If you look at our team, we cannot say today what is going to happen,' said Amorim, whose side also conceded four at Brentford on Sunday.
'Some teams, the story is going to be like this and control the narrative – we cannot do that.
'I feel we need to score to go to the next round. Then we use Brentford, we are near a draw then we suffer a goal and another one.
'We will have to suffer a bit to go to the final, and we are ready to suffer. Sometimes during the game we are one team and then we lose our mind a little bit.
'Looking at our season, everything is up for grabs. One goal has the power to shift the entire dynamics—considering how quickly momentum can turn, like we witnessed last week with a player getting sent off. Our objective is to secure victory; we’re fully focused on emerging as winners.'
Manchester United suffered their 16th loss of the current league campaign, marking their worst record in three and a half decades, during the match against Brentford over the weekend. However, they still have a chance to secure a spot in the Champions League if they manage to win the Europa League.
Amorim stated, "At that point in time, when you consider the Premier League, we stand as the least successful squad since my arrival based on our results. This is how I see things. By the close of the season, we might go down as the worst team ever in Premier League history even if we win a European title."
So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing.
'Things won’t be different, at that instant I needed some time to ponder, yet I sensed it. Even now, I believe this year has been the toughest in half a century.'
Bilbao had Dani Vivian sent off at the San Mames before Bruno Fernandes increased United's lead from the penalty spot as the balance of the tie swung firmly in their favour.
Asked if he has watched the game back, Amorim added: 'I watched the first 30 minutes and I forget the rest because you cannot prepare the game 11 against 10. I felt that again they were really intense, but most of the opportunities were our fault. We lost the possession, it is hard to find some space.'
Bilbao will be without wingers Nico and Inaki Williams, but Amorim still believes the Basques will pose a serious threat.
'It doesn't matter. For us it is the top team of Athletic. I understand it is hard to play without key players but for us it doesn't matter. We need to go to the game and try to win it.'
Read more