Man United set up Tottenham final in Europa League thanks to Mason Mount stunner - live reaction
Manchester United will face Tottenham in Bilbao on May 21, with a trophy and Champions League qualification on the line
Second-half substitute Mason Mount scored two sensational goals as Manchester United thrashed Athletic Club to book their place in the Europa League final and set up a meeting with Tottenham Hotspur.
Athletic scored first through Mikel Jauregizar’s brilliant curling finish to give them hope of turning around a 3-0 deficit from the first leg, but Mount’s first goal killed the tie, before Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund add close-range finishes late on.
And Mount capped off the performance with a remarkable goal as he fired home from around 50 yards with Athletic keeper Julen Agirrezabala off his line.
United will meet Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 May after Spurs saw off Bodo/Glimt in the other semi-final. Follow live reaction from Manchester United v Athletic Bilbao below.
Six English teams to play in Champions League thanks to Man United-Tottenham final
There will be six English teams in next season’s Champions League after Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur made it through to the Europa League final.
The Premier League started the season with four Champions League qualification spots, but a fifth was added due to the overall performance of English teams in this season’s European competitions.
United and Tottenham are not in a position to qualify for the Champions League through their Premier League standing, with United 15th in the table and Tottenham 16th, so an additional spot will be created for the Europa League winners.
Six English teams to play in Champions League thanks to Man United-Tottenham final
'All or nothing' for Manchester United, says Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim felt Manchester United's fighting spirit helped mask their weaknesses as Mason Mount inspired a comeback victory against Athletic Bilbao to help set up an "all or nothing" Europa League final against Tottenham.
The Red Devils overcame a slow start to win 3-0 at a stunned San Mames and did so again having stuttered in Thursday's semi-final second leg at Old Trafford, where Mikel Jaureguizar brilliantly put Ernesto Valverde's visitors ahead.
Substitute Mount settled nerves in the 72nd minute with a fantastic turn and finish, with Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund scoring before the United midfielder wrapped up a 4-1 victory with a stunning strike from distance.
"It was a good result," United head coach Amorim said. "I think if you look at both games it was so much tougher than if you look just to the result.
"We have so many (areas of) weakness and you can understand that in the game, but we are fighting and we managed to pass (through). I think we deserve, if you look at two games, to be in the final."
Uefa confirm Europa League final stance with Manchester United to play Tottenham
The Europa League final in Bilbao will not be moved with Manchester United to face Tottenham Hotspur.
An all-English final gives two of the Premier League’s underperforming teams a chance to save their seasons and gain direct access to next year’s Champions League. United are in 15th place in the Premier League and Tottenham, who have not won a trophy since 2008, are 16th.
Uefa confirm Europa League final stance with Manchester United to play Tottenham
How to get to Bilbao for the Europa League final – without spending a fortune on flights
Bilbao is likely to be full of English football fans on Wednesday 21 May. Northern Spain’s largest city is hosting the Europa League final, where Manchester United will play Tottenham Hotspur.
It will be the third time two English teams have competed in the final in the competition, with United defeating Athletic Club and Spurs overcoming the challenge of Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals.
With both United and Spurs leading after the first legs, many fans had already booked flights to Bilbao on the assumption their team will be playing in the final in the San Mames Stadium at 8pm on 21 May.
Fares have surged, even though easyJet has laid on extra flights from London Gatwick and Manchester. Flying out on 20 May, easyJet is charging £772 one-way from London Gatwick to Bilbao. On the day of the match, the price is £100 higher.
How to get to Bilbao for the Europa League final without paying a fortune for flights
Ange Postecoglou: ‘Man United-Tottenham final will upset people but I don’t care’
Ange Postecoglou said “a lot of people” will be upset by Tottenham facing Manchester United in the Europa League final but the Spurs manager added that he did not care with his side now one win away from ending their 17-year trophy drought.
Spurs and United have endured miserable seasons in the Premier League, with Postecoglou’s team 16th in the table and Ruben Amorim’s side 15th, but the winner in Bilbao will gain qualification to the Champions League.
Tottenham have not won a trophy since 2008 and Postecoglou hit back at those who were trying to “diminish” their potential achievement, responding to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s comments that it would be wrong for the Europa League winners to enter the Champions League.
Ange Postecoglou: ‘Man United-Tottenham final will upset people but I don’t care’
Ruben Amorim compares plight to Ange Postecoglou: ‘We are both struggling’
Ruben Amorim said he sympathised with upcoming Europa League final opponent Ange Postecoglou, acknowledging both managers are “struggling”.
Amorim’s Manchester United will play Postecoglou’s Tottenham in the Europa League final on May 21, offering both sides a chance at silverware and a route into the Champions League after dismal Premier League seasons.
Spurs have beaten United three times this season but Amorim said both teams, and managers, will go into the final with a similar perspective.
Ruben Amorim compares plight to Ange Postecoglou: ‘We are both struggling’
Amorim credits Mount for super-sub role
Thursday was a particularly sweet evening for Mount, who has endured all manner of injury setbacks since his big-money move from Chelsea to United in July 2023.
Put to Amorim he had a massive smile on his face when the England international struck from distance, he said: "Not just me. If you look at the bench, that is the best thing.
"That is the best feeling as a coach when we look at the other guys on the bench, and they are so happy for Mason Mount because everybody in that dressing room sees Mason Mount doing everything he can to be available.
"He's a really good player and you can see both goals are really, really good goals."
Amorim: 'Ange and I are both struggling'
The Europa League final sees the sides 15th and 16th in the Premier League standings go head to head, offering both the chance to save their seasons with silverware and Champions League qualification.
Spurs have already beaten United three times this term and Amorim is hoping it will be fourth time lucky.
"Every game has its history," Amorim said. "So, we lost the three last games, we can win this one.
"So, if you look at the odds, we are closer to win than to lose. Both teams are going to play like all or nothing in this in this kind of game. It's quite similar.
"The position of the coach is quite similar. I know that Ange (Postecoglou) has one more year. It is different the context, but we are struggling, both of us.
"So, I don't know what is going to happen - that is a good thing and a bad thing with this team. I never know. I will try to prepare the game, but I think we are improving.
"If we have more solutions... and you can see that we can take (Alejandro) Garnacho that gives us the speed the transition for Amad (Diallo), and to have that possibility can help us to win games.
"Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, all these players we can choose from these players, and to prepare a final in a better way.
"We have to understand that it's a final. It's completely different from Premier League games."
Amorim hails United's fighting spirit
"It was a good result," United head coach Amorim said. "I think if you look at both games it was so much tougher than if you look just to the result.
"We have so many (areas of) weakness and you can understand that in the game, but we are fighting and we managed to pass (through). I think we deserve, if you look at two games, to be in the final."
Amorim hails United's fighting spirit
Ruben Amorim felt Manchester United's fighting spirit helped mask their weaknesses as Mason Mount inspired a comeback victory against Athletic Bilbao to help set up an "all or nothing" Europa League final against Tottenham.
The Red Devils overcame a slow start to win 3-0 at a stunned San Mames and did so again having stuttered in Thursday's semi-final second leg at Old Trafford, where Mikel Jaureguizar brilliantly put Ernesto Valverde's visitors ahead.
Substitute Mount settled nerves in the 72nd minute with a fantastic turn and finish, with Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund scoring before the United midfielder wrapped up a 4-1 victory with a stunning strike from distance.
The 7-1 aggregate semi-final triumph flattered the Red Devils, who will now return to Bilbao to take on fellow Premier League strugglers Spurs in an mouthwatering all-English final on May 21.
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