Man Utd 4-1 Athletic Bilbao (7-1 on aggregate): Belief of winning Europa League most important – Amorim

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says the belief that would come with winning the Europa League is worth more to his side than any financial gain.

United survived a first-half wobble on Thursday to eventually beat Spanish side Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate and set up an all-English final against Tottenham.

Beating Spurs would also result in Champions League qualification for 2025-26, which would drive an additional £100m into United’s coffers at a conservative estimate.

“The money is not the most important thing,” Amorim said. “To win a title as a coach brings a feeling, a feeling we can do good things, that we can give something to our fans.

“I agree it is not just playing Champions League next season. It is that feeling we can change things.”

After winning 3-0 in Bilbao, Amorim said he could not be sure which version of his United side would turn up for the second leg and so it proved as they struggled for 70 minutes against the Basque outfit.

United were 1-0 down and looking nervous before rallying late on thanks to two goals from Mason Mount either side of efforts from Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund.

For a coach brought in because he has a certain style of play, the admission he does not know what will happen at any given moment must make Amorim shudder.

“I should be a better manager at this moment,” the Portuguese said. “The team should be better at this moment.

“But we are trying. We did quite well in Europe but we struggled a lot in the Premier League.”

Amorim’s side has certainly struggled against Tottenham this season.

They have already lost three times to Ange Postecoglou’s men and have won only twice in the Premier League – against Ipswich and Leicester – since the third of those reverses, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in February.

However, Tottenham have been no better overall this season than United and remain behind Amorim’s side in the table.

Postecoglou is widely expected to leave his job at the end of the season, win or lose.

“Both teams are going to play all or nothing,” said Amorim, who was appointed as United head coach in November 2024..

“The position of the coach is similar, I know Ange has one more year [in his job] but both of us are struggling. That is the good thing.”