Ruben Amorim must ensure that one Manchester United star remains injury-free for the next two matches ahead of the Athletic Bilbao encounter in the Europa League.
The Red Devils punched their ticket to the Europa League semi-finals after Manchester United’s stunning comeback against Lyon at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim’s men were 4-2 down in the second half of extra time before United scored three times against Lyon and sealed an emphatic 5-4 win on the night.
United played a 2-2 draw against Lyon in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais before the return-leg clash at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s side will travel to the San Mames Stadium on 1st May for their crucial first-leg tie against La Liga club Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-finals.
United will then host Athletic Bilbao in the return leg at Old Trafford on 8th May, with a place in the Europa League final hanging in the balance.
The Europa League is Amorim’s last chance of lifting silverware as United manager in the current campaign and securing Champions League football for next season.
Amorim will need one player operating at the best of his ability for the remainder of the 2024-25 Europa League campaign if United are to lift the trophy in Bilbao.
Why Ruben Amorim must carefully manage Casemiro for the next two Premier League matches ahead of the Europa League semi-finals vs Athletic Bilbao
Manchester United have two Premier League matches ahead of them before they face Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals.
The Red Devils will now host Wolves at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League, with kick-off for the match slated for 8pm UK time.
Following on from the encounter with Wolves, United will travel to the Vitality Stadium on 27th April to face Bournemouth in their Premier League clash.
Ruben Amorim has to take extra caution with how much he uses United midfielder Casemiro over the course of the Wolves clash and the Bournemouth match.
Casemiro played the full 120 minutes in United’s 5-4 win over Lyon and the 33-year-old Red Devils star excelled with his display in the Europa League quarter-final tie.
The former Real Madrid star won the penalty that Bruno Fernandes converted in the second half of extra time before he bagged two important assists against Lyon.
Casemiro set up Kobbie Mainoo for United’s equaliser before the Brazil star picked up another assist after he set up Harry Maguire for the winner at Old Trafford.
The Brazil international has been met with criticism over his form in the Premier League, but Casemiro has shown his quality in the Europa League campaign.
Casemiro impressed United fans against Real Sociedad in the last 16 of the Europa League and his experience on the European stage has proved invaluable.
The United midfielder is all too aware of the challenge of playing in big European matches and Casemiro’s experience at Real Madrid is what Amorim now needs.
Ruben Amorim already places major focus on Man Utd’s Europa League semi-final showdown with Athletic Bilbao
Speaking after the Lyon match, United manager Amorim was asked if the thrilling 5-4 result was the best win that he had in his entire managerial career.
“It is hard to say,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“In here and the sound of the last two goals were amazing, that is something we can keep for [the] future, it was a good feeling, but [at] the end of the game, [if] you go to [the] semi-finals, you need to win it.
“If you go to the semi-finals and you don’t win it, it is the same feeling. We need to focus on [the] next stage and try to win [the] competition.”
Either United or Athletic Bilbao will face Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt in the final of the Europa League on 21st May at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
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