Manchester United will be tasked with keeping an in-form Athletic Club side quiet over their two-legged Europa League clash.
The entire season hinges on winning the Europa League. It is Manchester United’s only remaining route to Champions League qualification.
After the dramatic 5-4 victory over Lyon at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals, the Red Devils now face Athletic Club in the semi-finals with the first leg in Bilbao on Thursday evening.
United are fully prioritising the Europa League with nothing left to play for domestically, but that only adds to the pressure of Thursday evening’s match.
Ruben Amorim has prepared for Athletic Club’s tactics, but he has been warned that two players in particular must be kept quiet.
Christian Eriksen and Ander Herrera highlight Athletic Club threat
United drew 1-1 with Bournemouth on the weekend, and after the full-time whistle Bruno Fernandes suggested that the Premier League outfit play in a very similar way to Athletic Club with “very quick wingers who are very good in one-v-ones.”
Fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen was asked about United’s Europa League opponents and he said very similar, picking out brothers Inaki Williams and Nico Williams as the biggest threat.
Speaking to MUTV, Eriksen said: “Obviously, they have good wingers with the Williams brothers who have always been there and are doing really well.
“But I’m sure they have a lot of players when we go into the game and as we get closer to the game we’ll get a bit of knowledge about who else they are playing with.
“They have a generally good team.”
Former Red Devils midfielder Ander Herrera spent three years at Athletic Club before signing for United in 2014 – he later returned in 2022 until 2025.
During that second spell, he played alongside the Williams brothers and he told BBC that they are “key” to how the side play.
“In terms of football, they are key,” Herrera said. “But on the personal side they are fantastic guys, always positive, always smiling.
“Even when they argue, which we have seen a few times, like a brother discussion, it is so funny for us and we love it.”
Inaki Williams and Nico Williams will threaten Man United
Athletic Club have often lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation this season, and Inaki Williams and Nico Williams usually line up either side of the central striker.
Initially there were some concerns after Nico Williams suffered an injury scare in the lead-up to the game, but the 22-year-old has been cleared fit.
Nico Williams admires Manchester United and is looking forward to playing at Old Trafford. Amorim will hope the tie is out of sight before he has a chance to inflict damage to his side.
This season alone, Nico Williams has scored 11 goals and assisted seven times, while his older brother Inaki has scored 11 and assisted nine.
With Diogo Dalot out injured for United, it will likely be Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu tasked with keeping the brothers quiet on Thursday evening.
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