Mason Mount is looking forward to taking on Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-finals.
Manchester United beat Lyon 5-4 to secure a place in the Europa League semi-finals, with a poor domestic record that makes it hard to believe that the Red Devils are the only unbeaten team in European competition this season.
Ruben Amorim will aim to keep that record for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.
The first leg of United’s tie against Athletic Club takes place on Thursday night, with the second leg lined up for next week at Old Trafford. It promises to be a close encounter after the Spanish side beat Rangers 2-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
It’s also a chance for Amorim’s side to play at the San Mames, which is where they will play if they knock out Athletic Club and reach the Europa League final.
Sitting 14th in the Premier League table, United have no reason to underestimate Athletic Club over two legs. Not when United’s season objective is winning the Europa League outright.
Mason Mount takes inspiration from fans ahead of Europa League semi-final
Mason Mount is one of the substitutes who came off the bench to help inspire United to victory against Lyon on a chaotic night at Old Trafford.
After recently returning from injury, Amorim has been careful to ease Mount back into action, but the midfielder will be hoping to play a key part in United’s quest for Europa League glory.
Mount is clear on the challenge at hand, with Athletic Club being a decent side with an impressive defensive record.
The England international also admitted that the players will take inspiration from a popular United chant, which was referenced on a Tifo display ahead of United’s quarter-final win over Lyon.
“Lyon was a special night,” Mount told ManUtd.com ahead of United’s first-leg clash against Athletic Club.
“It’s a game I’ll remember for a very long time. It’s still probably not actually settled in, what happened at the end! It was a crazy, crazy 10 minutes.
“We conceded the penalty and it was 4-2. We were 4-2 down and, the next minute, I was in celebrating with the crowd – it was the craziest game! I watched that goal for about two days straight after!
“I think all of us were watching it, just saying this is unbelievable. It gives you goosebumps watching the celebrations and all of us running into that corner.
“To end like that and get the win was obviously massively important for our campaign but [also] to build togetherness because you can’t win games like that if you’re not together as a team and I think we showed that in abundance.
“He [Ruben Amorim] was very calm [at 4-2]. He gave us messages that we needed to adapt to the game. We knew going into that [second] half of extra-time that we’d have a lot of possession and they’d try to drop deep to defend the box. That was the situation, and then it’s down to us to create those opportunities and those magic moments.
“Kobs [Mainoo] had the goal, then the goal from H [Harry Maguire] right at the end. They’re the moments that we know we’ve got in us. Anything can happen. We’re never out of the game. We know what we can do, we know what we can produce.
“Our goal is to win this competition and we’re gonna do everything we can to achieve that. We know the two games coming up are going to be tough against a good team, but we want to recreate those special moments here, and obviously in the away game first. It’s going to be an amazing game, we’re all looking forward to it, and that’s the thing we’re always gonna be telling each other: ‘Never gonna stop’, because it’s never gonna be over.”
Mason Mount yet to register a goal contribution this season
It has been another disappointing season for Mount due to injury setbacks and limited game time.
Mount has yet to register a goal or assist for United this season, despite making 19 appearances, with six of them coming in the Europa League.
| Games | Goals | Assists |
| 39 | 1 | 1 |
He will hope to make his 20th appearance of the season against Athletic Bilbao in Spain. It would be a good time to score his first goal of the season.
Mount managed just two goal contributions in his first season at the club.
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