Manchester United have set up an all-English Europa League final against Tottenham after beating Athletic Club 7-1 on aggregate.
Manchester United will experience a connection to Moscow at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 21st. This event serves as a reminder of the 2008 all-English Champions League final, where United triumphed over Chelsea in a penalty shootout following John Terry’s slip during his penalty kick.
This time, they will face Tottenham, with Mason Mount, a former Chelsea youth player, playing a pivotal role in securing their place in the final. Mount’s goal from the bench, which brought the aggregate score to 4-1, extinguished Athletic Club’s hopes of a comeback and bolstered his confidence, leading to a second goal in the final moments.
Additionally, Amad Diallo made a significant impact during his brief appearance, providing an excellent assist to Rasmus Hojlund with a powerful run down the right flank, aiding Ruben Amorim’s team in reaching the final.
While these two players have garnered much attention, there is another individual who deserves recognition for their understated contributions to United’s journey to the Europa League final.
Leny Yoro shines for Manchester United in 4-1 win vs Athletic Club
Although not receiving the same recognition as Mount and Amad, Leny Yoro emerged as United’s most underrated player in the victory, showcasing a maturity in his performance that belied his age.
At just 19, Yoro stood out as one of United’s top performers in this crucial match, justifying the £52 million investment made last summer.
His contributions were commendable across the board, but the highlight was undoubtedly the assist he delivered to Mount for the opening goal, demonstrating exceptional dribbling skills more typical of a winger before executing a precise layoff.
Nevertheless, his impact extended beyond this singular moment; he excelled defensively and illustrated his growth as a defender with numerous dynamic runs from the backline, complemented by accurate passing.
| Statistic | Vs. Athletic Club |
| Minutes | 90 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Passing | 38/44 |
| Chances created | 2 |
| Touches | 65 |
| Tackles | 1/2 |
| Blocks | 4 |
| Clearances | 4 |
| Defensive actions | 13 |
| Recoveries | 5 |
| Duels won | 10/14 |
Yoro looked like this was his 10th European semi-final with such composure, he expertly denied Athletic Club any chance of getting back into the game, with that long shot the only real chance they got.
Leny Yoro reacts to reaching Europa League final for Manchester United
Yoro has shown consistent improvement throughout the season, and the outlook appears exceptionally promising for this exceptional defender. Following his most impressive performance to date, Yoro engaged in a conversation with TNT Sports, sharing his insights on representing United and the upcoming Europa League final.
“I am really enjoying my football. I thank God every day for putting me in Manchester United and I’m really proud of this, and I want to continue doing this.”
“We know it won’t be easy, it will be a little bit weird because for us it will be like the Premier League, but we need to play the game like it’s a final, and I hope we are going to win.
“It means a lot for us to play in Europe next season, we want to qualify for the Champions League because it is the best competition in the world. So we need to play this competition honestly, we need to win this trophy, and we will give everything to do it.”
Yoro is one player who United need to get Champions League football for as he chose Old Trafford over Real Madrid and deserves the club to be at a certain level, which he is helping contribute to despite his age.
Leave a Reply