Rio Ferdinand has spoken out on one thing that he has picked up on about Manchester United under Ruben Amorim ahead of the Athletic Club match.
Ruben Amorim’s men travelled to Spain to resume their Europa League campaign and the Red Devils will meet Athletic Club in the semi-finals of the competition.
Athletic Club knocked Rangers out in the quarter-finals and the La Liga outfit will host Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Thursday.
The Red Devils punched their ticket to the semi-finals of the 2024-25 Europa League campaign after United knocked Lyon out of the tournament in the last eight.
United must win the Europa League this season if Amorim’s side stand any chance of securing a return to Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Europa League trophy is also United’s main hope of picking up any kind of European football for next season, with the Red Devils currently 14th in the table.
Amorim could sign off the season with his first piece of major silverware as United manager as well if the Red Devils can lift the Europa League trophy on 21st May.
Rio Ferdinand singles out key concern for Man Utd ahead of the Europa League semi-final encounter vs Athletic Club
Manchester United and Athletic Club will clash on Thursday evening in their first-leg Europa League semi-final tie, with kick-off slated for 8pm UK time.
The Red Devils will then host Athletic Club at Old Trafford on 8th May for the return leg and the second-leg match next Thursday will also begin at 8pm in the UK.
The winner of Athletic Club and United in the semi-finals will face either Bodo/Glimt or Tottenham in the Europa League final at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
Rio Ferdinand has said that Ruben Amorim’s men have been exposed in the Premier League this season and have been “possibly one of the weakest teams physically.”
The 46-year-old United legend added that the Red Devils have been able to show their physicality in the Europa League and have been able to “overpower” teams.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he explained: “[It would be] a huge success, given the disappointments there have been in the Premier League this year.
“To end the season with a trophy and then qualification for the Champions League, I don’t think they could’ve dreamed of that. It’d paper over some of the cracks.
“Physically, the teams they’ve played against [in the Europa League] they’ve been able to overpower.
“In the Premier League, United are possibly one of the weakest teams physically.
“If they don’t get beat tactically or by individual brilliance, then physically they get overpowered or overrun, and in Europe they’ve managed to do that to opposing teams.”
Rio Ferdinand highlights Man Utd’s Europa League performance vs Lyon in the quarter-finals for one reason
The Red Devils staged a dramatic comeback in their second-leg Europa League quarter-final encounter after United defeated Lyon 5-4 at Old Trafford in April.
Ferdinand claimed that United’s result against Lyon should be a major boost for Amorim’s side and he feels the Red Devils could defy the odds in the Europa League.
“I hope it provides a bit of confidence, although the league results since haven’t been improved,” he added.
“I like to think in this competition they feel something. That’s what happens, you get into a groove in a competition and it’s almost like it’s meant to be.
“Hopefully, it’s starting to feel like that for the players.”
The Red Devils were in Premier League action last Sunday and United snatched a late draw against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
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