Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde has received a major boost with one key first-team player ahead of the Europa League encounter against Manchester United.
The Red Devils will meet La Liga club Athletic Club in the semi-finals of the Europa League after Manchester United knocked Lyon out of the quarter-finals.
United staged a sensational comeback against Lyon in the second-leg Europa League tie and Ruben Amorim’s men clinched a 5-4 win at Old Trafford earlier this month.
Athletic Club, on the other hand, overcame Rangers in their second-leg quarter-final tie after Ernesto Valverde’s men picked up a 2-0 win at the San Mames Stadium.
The Spanish side will host United in the first leg of the semi-finals on Thursday evening, with kick-off for the Europa League match slated for 8pm UK time.
United will then welcome Athletic Club to Old Trafford on 8th May before one of the two sides meets either Bodo/Glimt or Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Ruben Amorim’s side were in action ahead of the first-leg encounter with Athletic Club and United secured a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Nico Williams sends a message about his injury ahead of Man Utd vs Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-finals
Nico Williams’ last start for Athletic Club came in the 2-0 win over Rangers in the Europa League, with the Spanish winger netting for his side in the second half.
The 22-year-old Athletic Club star has been dealing with an injury in the current season and Nico Williams has been making sporadic appearances since the quarter-finals.
Williams has scored 11 times and picked up seven assists for the La Liga outfit in 43 matches across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign.
The Spain international admitted that he has had a “problem” with his injury, but he admitted that he could be ready to start against Manchester United on Thursday.
“It’s a problem I’ve been carrying with me this season,” he said at Athletic Club’s pre-match press conference, as per the London Evening Standard.
“I always do my best to get to the game and play, to see if I can hold on. I think I’m pretty good.
“The doctors and the coaching staff are managing my playing time well, and I’m feeling pretty good and calm.”
Ruben Amorim’s important message to Man Utd players ahead of their Europa League semi-final showdown with Athletic Club
Speaking after United’s Premier League result against Bournemouth, United manager
Ruben Amorim admitted that all of his players must adopt a winning mentality.
“[We have to] do the things that I believe, and then work hard every day,” he said at his post-match press conference, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“Then, like today, when things are hard, we have to push and we have to believe.
“That’s the only way to put the mentality [in]. Try to win every game; that is our mentality. We want to win.”
The Europa League final will be played at Athletic Club’s San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on 21st May.
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