[The Irish Connection]

Wow, what a result!

Couldn't have dreamed that up!

 

[Red in STL]

Surely Amad will the final if we get there.

He'd be replacing Garnacho, I can't see Maz getting dropped from RWB so I suspect not, a good problem for Amorin though

 

[Al-T]

Nice to 'Basque' in the glow of an excellent and unexpected victory.

 

[Banana Republic]

If we were going into the home leg with a 4-0 or 5-0 lead, it would have been an almost impossible task for Bilbao.
3-0 should be good enough, but with this version of Utd, anything could go wrong.

Bilbao had to go safe and defensive in the 2nd half, otherwise the tie could have been out of sight.
Having kept the scoreline down to 3-0, their only option next week at OT, is to go all out gung-ho and attack us.
This Utd could quite easily concede goals, as we did against Lyon.
No complacency!
Unless we can get an early 2 goal lead, it could be much less comfortable ride than some are expecting.

.

 

[JJ12]

Lindelof double block was pivotal

 

[VivaRonaldo85]

Wonderful evening, fantastic result. No injuries and key injured players back. It couldn’t have gone much better. Let’s just do a professional job next week now….

 

[Red in STL]

Brilliant first half performance and professional second half. From the moment Garnacho had his goal ruled out for offside the result was never in doubt for me.
Big decisions to be made in the summer, Casemiro, Garnacho stick or twist?

Casemiro is going nowhere, Garnacho has improved quite a bit in the last couple of months, unless he's sacrificed to fund a top level striker I don't see him leaving either

 

[Hester_manc]

If we were going into the home leg with a 4-0 or 5-0 lead, it would have been an almost impossible task for Bilbao.
3-0 should be good enough, but with this version of Utd, anything could go wrong.

Bilbao had to go safe and defensive in the 2nd half, otherwise the tie could have been out of sight.
Having kept the scoreline down to 3-0, their only option next week at OT, is to go all out gung-ho and attack us.
This Utd could quite easily concede goals, as we did against Lyon.
No complacency!
Unless we can get an early 2 goal lead, it could be much less comfortable ride than some are expecting.

.

Bilbao had some big chances, before Casemiro scored, and I do not feel 100% certain yet. But it should be enough. As long as we do not get anyone sent off.

 

[JustRuud]

Will definitely take that. Excellent first half after the nervy opening 20 minutes or so. Then decent game management in the second half. Probably could have pressed for more but sets us up in excellent shape for the return leg.

Will hope Bodo can turn it around as absolutely do not want to face Spurs in the final.

What about Harry Maguire eh? Defender, striker, winger, what a player!

 

[P-Nut]

Casemiro is going nowhere, Garnacho has improved quite a bit in the last couple of months, unless he's sacrificed to fund a top level striker I don't see him leaving either

Need to win this to keep Garnacho I feel like.

 

[Dominos]

Mate….

By a while I meant 2 weeks.

 

[Lentwood]

Have to be consistent...the first half an hour was appalling. I still think that's down to personnel...lack of composure on the ball in midfield etc...but it was bad. They swarmed all over us and there were too many turnovers. Reminded me of Seville under EtH.

The result is fantastic, so let's enjoy that for sure, but further doubts about Ugarte and the balance in our midfield after tonight for me.

 

[P-Nut]

2nd leg should hopefully suit us, we've always been decent on the counter and they have no option but to throw everything at us now..

 

[Glorio]

Mason Mount's performance is truly embarrassing! He's always walking around, his numbers are like those of a player completely disconnected from the squad, and he doesn't give a damn about anything. He came on for 30 minutes and what a minute.

Mason Mount disappoints me in many ways but he's one of our hardest grafters. Not sure where you're getting this from.

 

[Schmeichel=God]

If the ref had checked that Garnacho foul, sent off another and gave the pen, then given a yellow to the guy gripping and diving on Maguire....I'd have wanted him knighted or a statue erected somewhere.

 

[pocco]

He'd be replacing Garnacho, I can't see Maz getting dropped from RWB so I suspect not, a good problem for Amorin though

Maz back to RCB maybe? Though I think Maguire and Yoro are locked in, and I expect De Ligt will be in contention. Perhaps Amad and Garnacho behind Hojlund, Bruno in CM.

 

[Posh Red]

By a while I meant 2 weeks.

 

[Banana Republic]

Bruno, Harry and Amorim in their post match interviews, all agreed we were too safe and over cautious and should have been more attack minded at time's in the 2nd half.

A tough away game at Brentford up next, on Sunday, before the return leg at OT.


.

 

[manichester]

Spanish team more interested in playing rugby than football.

 

[pocco]

Have to be consistent...the first half an hour was appalling. I still think that's down to personnel...lack of composure on the ball in midfield etc...but it was bad. They swarmed all over us and there were too many turnovers. Reminded me of Seville under EtH.

The result is fantastic, so let's enjoy that for sure, but further doubts about Ugarte and the balance in our midfield after tonight for me.

You’d have to be foolish not to look at the game when it was 11 vs 11. Similar to the Bournemouth game too, where we were also pretty erratic until the red, though not to the same extent as tonight. Ugarte, Dorgu and Garnacho were giving it away for fun in the opening 20. Couldn’t deal with the press at all.

3-0 is great but we need to be switched on in that second leg. Their tactics are going to be to start fast, press like hell and look for an early goal. 11 vs 11 you could see our players were struggling, largely because of the performance of those mentioned.

 

[Robertd0803]

Get in there.

Fantastic result in that atmosphere with the stats being against us. Incredible.

 

[LordSpud]

Will be interesting to see what Bilbao do. They are still fighting for 4th in La Liga so still have an "in" to the CL... Maybe they see it as too big an obstacle and play a weaker side at OT to ensure they finish their league campaign strong?

 

[lex talionis]

It was a vastly better performance than what I had expected. I did expect us to defend well, but the move Maguire put on the Bilbao left back was one for the ages. And then Bruno through for the 1v1 finish...fantastic.

Worried early on that we were going to get played off the park, but we roared back like lions and got the fully deserved win.

There's nothing to moan about tonight, mates.

 

[Cutch]

Mason Mount's performance is truly embarrassing! He's always walking around, his numbers are like those of a player completely disconnected from the squad, and he doesn't give a damn about anything. He came on for 30 minutes and what a minute.

Weird critique. People usually say that all he does is run around

 

[Blood Mage]

Brilliant performance, our best of the season. Bruno, Casemiro, Yoro and Mazraoui all excellent.

 

[Glorio]

They were great. What is it you want from opposition fans?

What an odd reaction to that game.

They were definitely mugs for not observing the minute of silence, that was disgraceful.

 

[Jeffthered]

Didn't really play that well. It's great to go home with a three-goal lead, but that was entirely down to the fact that we were playing against a team in bad form, missing their best player, and down to ten men for two thirds of the game. Numerous awful performances despite all that.

What a strange post.

We are neither a settled, nor confident team. We played v well to get this result.

 

[Red Company]

Maz back to RCB maybe? Though I think Maguire and Yoro are locked in, and I expect De Ligt will be in contention. Perhaps Amad and Garnacho behind Hojlund, Bruno in CM.

I think this should be the team playing the second leg and potentially the final barring any suspensions/injuries

Onana
DeLigt Maguire Yoro
Maz Casemiro Bruno Shaw
Garnacho Mainoo
Hojlund

Amad can be the super sub.

 

[moses]

They were definitely mugs for not observing the minute of silence, that was disgraceful.

Yeah, maybe but history is the context. I wouldn't go as far as call it a disgrace. I'm not sure the Queen would have gotten a minute's silence in Dublin, so it would have been foolish to expect it. The church's complicity in the Franco regime, which was particularly cruel in País Basco was real. Expecting people to be respectful to people they openly disrespect is a bit silly.

 

[Von Mistelroum]

Really wish we had got 4, but that was great! Yoro, Bruno, Casemiro were class! Maguire our best forward!

 

[Tincanalley]

They were great. What is it you want from opposition fans?

What an odd reaction to that game.

Exactly. Nicely understated response

 

[Fts 74]

Fantastic result, more than I could've hoped for tbh.I'm just pleased we didn't concede a stupid goal and give them some hope.

We should get the job done next week, they'll have to go for it at some stage should suit us on the break.

Cas, Bruno and Harry outstanding.

 

[moses]

Fantastic result, more than I could've hoped for tbh.I'm just pleased we didn't concede a stupid goal and give them some hope.

Exactly. Although at times in the last few minutes I was sure they'd score.

 

[Tincanalley]

Yoro was great, yes. Maguire undroppable

 

[DRJosh]

Couldn’t catch the game. How did Hojlund do?

 

[RomfordRed75]

If United and Spurs make the final its Interesting we play on the Friday against Chelsea and spurs play on the Sunday against Villa with the final on Wednesday.

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

Not sure if it'll made a difference but it's fantastic to have a great result and performance in that stadium considering the final is there. We've experienced playing on the pitch and had our best match of the season so we should be buzzing coming into the final (provided we get there)

 

[NinjaZombie]

It's rare that we get a competent ref in Europe, especially against Spanish opposition.

 

[The Purley King]

Lindelof double block was pivotal

Agreed but unless I’m mistaken he caused the problem himself in the first place

 

[Alemar]

It was an excellent night. Casemiro with a good goal, Bruno brace, Ugarte MotM performance with two assists, de Ligt and Amad with some minutes after injuries, clean sheet