Manchester United are preparing for the second leg of their Europa League semifinal against Athletic Bilbao knowing only a calamity will prevent a likely showdown with Tottenham later this month.
Ruben Amorim’s men came away from the first leg in northern Spain last week with one foot firmly in the final, also in Bilbao, after an impressive 3-0 win.
It was an extraordinary result in a season of ceaseless turmoil at United and the club reverted to type on Sunday, crashing to their 16th Premier League loss of a miserable season at Brentford.
United have now suffered their highest number of league defeats in a campaign for 35 years.
They are 15th in the Premier League – on course for their worst finish since they were relegated in 1974, though this time they are safe from the drop.
Amorim has made no secret of his priorities for the rest of the season, making eight changes to his starting team at Brentford, naming the third-youngest side in Premier League history.
“We are losing games in the Premier League, we are fighting for the Europa League, so we need to accept that and to think about Thursday as the most important game for us,” said the Portuguese boss.
“Thursday is the most important game. The end of this season is very important.”
This season and next hang on whether United can complete the job against Athletic and go on to win the final against Tottenham or Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, with Spurs 3-1 up after the first leg in London.
Winning the competition would not make up for a disastrous Premier League campaign but it would bring a place in the 2025/26 Champions League – a potential game-changer for United financially and for their ability to attract top players.
Former Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim admits that even though winning the Europa League is crucial, his team are not ready to balance the demands of the Premier League and the Champions League.
“We know that, but we need to win, and we need to fight to win this competition (Europa League), to give something to our fans, and to go to the Champions League,” he told Sky Sports.
“Then we will have time to prepare the team to cope with those two competitions. So, it is a dilemma, but we want to win, of course.”
Amorim has had a nightmare start to his United reign – only relegated sides Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have won fewer Premier League matches than United’s tally of six since he replaced the sacked Eric ten Hag in November.
That they are even on the brink of the Europa League final is thanks largely to inspirational captain Bruno Fernandes, who scored two goals in Bilbao in a match in which United were helped by the first-half dismissal of Athletic defender Dani Vivian.
Egypt 2025: Flying Eagles held by Kenya, zoom to reach quarter finals
Nigeria reached the quarter finals of the ongoing CAF U20 Championship in Egypt despite having to force Kenya’s Rising Stars to a 2-2 draw in the last match of group B yesterday.
In the event, the Flying Eagles finished second on the table with five points, two behind group leaders Morocco who drilled Tunisia 3-1 in the other match of the pool and will remain in Cairo for the quarter finals, against the second-placed team in group A. Group A is made up of hosts Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Tanzania.
Seven-time champions Nigeria will now have to make the trip to Ismailia for their quarter-final game on Monday, against the second-placed team in group C. Group C is made up of title-holders Senegal, bitter-rivals Ghana, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya’s Rising Stars made the game difficult for the Flying Eagles, as the wards of Aliyu Zubairu had to come from behind twice to salvage the encounter.
Kevin Wangaya put the Rising Stars ahead after only five minutes, scoring from the penalty spot after a Nigerian defender stopped the ball with his hand in the box.
Nigeria restored parity seven minutes later, after Kparobo Arierhi waltzed his way through the defence to place the ball firmly beyond the reach of the opposition goal-tender.
The East Africans were back in front in the 68th minute, as the Flying Eagles’ rearguard ball-watched a freekick from the left and allowed William to blast the ball past goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt from Lawrence’s in-swinger.
Five minutes later, Nigeria were level again, with captain Daniel Bameyi sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot after substitute Mendos Rickson was upended in the box.
The Flying Eagles’ match on Monday will be the first quarter-final, starting at 3pm Egypt time (1pm Nigeria time) in Ismailia
Nigeria league body expels club for missing three matches
The Nationwide League One (NLO) has expelled Positive FA from participating in the division.
According to the NLO, Positive FA have failed to show up for three consecutive matches in the league.
The NLO stated that the action contravene the rules of the league.
The league body placed a two-year ban on all members of the management of the team, with all earned points withdrawn from the club.
Positive FA and Sky Limit FC are the two teams who have been kicked out of the ongoing NLO season.
It would be recalled that Sky Limit FC were found to have assaulted officials during a league match.
Anthony Joshua considers take over of Championship side Watford
British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua, is weighing up a potential investment in EFL Championship side Watford FC, the team from his hometown.
Joshua, who still lives in the area, is looking to have a financial stake in the club.
Throughout his career, the 35-year-old has earned an estimated $110 million in the process.
Now, the two-time world champion is looking to channel some of his money into long-term business ventures.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Joshua said: “We wanted to move into private equity, venture capital funds.
“As you earn, naturally you want to save, so rather than me spending recklessly I’m trying to invest money into certain asset classes — and that [Watford] was an opportunity that presented itself.”
“Nothing’s come of it yet. It’s a serious investment. If it comes off, it’s one that should do well.
“If they went back to the Premier League, then I’d need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomenal.
“I’m not a massive football fan myself, but watching the fans stream down Market Street and into Vicarage Road — those were great scenes. If we don’t do it, then good luck to them anyway because they’re a great team,” he added.
Zamalek sack ex-Super Eagles coach Peseiro
Egyptian football giants, Zamalek, yesterday announced the sacking of former Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro.
Zamalek took the decision following their recent 2-2 draw with National Bank.
The Portuguese joined the White Knights on a two-year contract in February.
“Zamalek and Jose Peseiro agree to end the relationship by mutual consent. We wish him the best in future,” a statement on the club’s official website read.
The 65-year-old has been under pressure since the club’s elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup last month.
The holders were eliminated 1-0 on aggregate by South African club, Stellenbosch.
Domestically, they are seven points adrift surprise leaders Pyramids FC.
In 17 matches under Peseiro’s tutelage, Zamalek won seven times, drew eight and lost twice.