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      Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao LIVE SCORE: Red Devils look to avoid catastrophic collapse and book Europa League final spot

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      MANCHESTER UNITED host Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final TONIGHT.The Red Devils have one foot in the final after smashing the Spaniards 3-0 on their own turf last week.Ruben Amorim’s men will be looking to avoid a catastrophic collapse at Old Trafford and keep their hopes of silverware alive.Kick off time: 8pm BSTTV channel: TNT Sports 1Live stream: discovery+Man Utd team: To follow…Athletic Bilbao team: To follow…CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…Bao outRuben Amorim is worried about losing to Athletic Bilbao as his team have a tendency to “lose our minds”.The manager admitted in his pre-match press conference: “We cannot control, we cannot say what is going to happen.”There are some teams that understand the game is going to be like this.”It can change a little bit but the story is going to be like this and you can control the narrative of the game. But we cannot do that.”We have to face the game as one more game, to win it, I feel we need to score to go to the next round.”We use Brentford, we are near a draw then we suffer a goal and another goal quite fast.”We will have to suffer a bit to go to the final and we are ready to suffer.”Copy linkCopiedGarna stayAlejandro Garnacho has vowed to stay at Manchester United and could now smash one of his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s records.The Argentine brushed off comparisons with Ronaldo as he stands on the brink of surpassing one of the Portuguese superstar’s many feats.Yet he knows he will likely have to deal with them for as long as he remains a United player.After all, it was Ronaldo who created the Argentinian winger’s first goal for the Red Devils back in November 2022.And when the six-time Ballon d’Or winner left Old Trafford for the second and final time a few weeks later, the Stretford End immediately gave his song to Garnacho.But deep down he probably would not have it any other way.Copy linkCopiedManta StayManchester United’s young Saka-like starlet Bendito Mantato has signed his first professional contract with the club.Mantato, 17, was named on the bench for the first time last week as he travelled to Spain for the first leg of United’s Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao.He was also absent from Monday’s U21 squad to face West Ham to be instead part of the preparations for the second leg on Thursday night.The teenager is so highly-rated that he has drawn comparisons with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka with his dynamic left-footed play on the right wing.His journey from wing-back to right wing mirrors the Arsenal star’s youth journey and makes him an attractive fit for Ruben Amorim’s side.The United boss has experimented with wing-backs this season, using Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot in the role.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopied(Red Devils)Manchester United will not wear their usual home kit against West Ham at Old Trafford.The Red Devils host the Hammers in the Premier League on Sunday in the battle to avoid finishing 17th.But United’s red home shirt is being changed for the match.Rather than the logo of sponsors Snapdragon on the front of the jersey, the symbol for (Red) will feature instead.The special edition changed tops will also be used for Manchester United Women’s WSL clash with Arsenal on Saturday.The one-off shirts from the matches will then be sold off on online auction site MatchWornShirt to raise funds, with net proceeds going to (Red)’s campaign against health injustice.Copy linkCopiedWelcome!We have a big night in store for Manchester United with a place in the Europa League final up for grabs.Ruben Amorim’s side were incredible last week in the Basque country, putting Athletic to the sword with a superb 3-0 win.Surely even they can’t blow a lead from this position…We’ll bring you all the build-up to a huge night at Old Trafford.Copy linkCopied More

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      Man Utd wonderkid and ‘next Bukayo Saka’ Bendito Mantato, 17, signs first pro contract with club

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      MANCHESTER United’s young Saka-like starlet Bendito Mantato has signed his first professional contract with the club.Mantato, 17, was named on the bench for the first time last week as he travelled to Spain for the first leg of United’s Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao.Bendito Mantato, centre, has signed a first professional contract with Man Utd after training with the first team.Credit: GettyHe was also absent from Monday’s U21 squad to face West Ham to be instead part of the preparations for the second leg on Thursday night.The teenager is so highly-rated that he has drawn comparisons with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka with his dynamic left-footed play on the right wing.His journey from wing-back to right wing mirrors the Arsenal star’s youth journey and makes him an attractive fit for Ruben Amorim’s side.The United boss has experimented with wing-backs this season, using Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot in the role.READ MORE ON MAN UTDBut Mantato could be a valuable string to his bow with 14 goals and assists this season across U18 and U21 level.It’s not just Amorim who can see the potential in the star as Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Brighton expressed interest in signing him last year, according to the Manchester Evening News.Mantato has been hailed as a “versatile player with impressive size for his age and a strong technical base” by community football platform Planet Football and has gone viral on X for his skills.Despite making his U18 debut aged 14 only last season, his senior debut could be on the horizon.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAmorim has already started to give youth a shot, fielding the club’s youngest ever starting XI in the Premier League against Brentford on Sunday with a 22 years and 270 days average age.Chido Obi, 17, and Harry Amass, 18, both started among an additional five 20-year-olds. After scoring the 99th minute winner against Arsenal in the February FA Youth Cup quarterfinals, Mantato will be a welcome addition to the senior side.Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford More

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      Rio Ferdinand to miss Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao clash with sickness bug with TNT Sports pundit’s family also affected

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      RIO FERDINAND is set to miss Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Athletic Bilbao after being struck down with illness.Ferdinand, 46, took to social media on Wednesday with a selfie from his hospital bed.Rio Ferdinand is set to miss Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao due to his illnessCredit: https://x.com/rioferdy5Other members of Ferdinand’s family have been affectedCredit: SplashHe was due to be in Paris to cover PSG vs Arsenal’s second leg in the Champions League. But Ferdinand could not make the trip due to his health.And PA now report that the sickness bug will also wipe him out of tonight’s Old Trafford clash.It is understood the bug has also affected other members of Ferdinand’s family. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe 81-cap former England star is married to Kate Wright.They have two children together – son Cree, four, and daughter Shae, one. Ferdinand also had three kids – Lorenz, Tate, and Tia – with his first wife Rebecca Ellison, who tragically passed away in 2015.Ferdinand tweeted on Wednesday just two hours before kick-off at the Parc des Princes with his thumbs-up photo in hospital. Most read in FootballThe United hero wrote: “Gutted to be missing the Semi-Finals this week on @footballontnt!!”Wishing the team all the best — I’ll be watching every minute from the iPad!”TNT Sports were among the many to send their best wishes and a speedy recovery. Ferdinand later tweeted “horrendous decision” when PSG were awarded a controversial penalty for handball.He then replied “brooooo” to Patrice Evra’s bizarre videos – in which he compared Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy to interrupted sex. Ferdinand was set to be on commentary duties for United’s second leg against Athletic tonight. United lead 3-0 from the first leg in Spain last week thanks to a first-half blitz from Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. Should Ruben Amorim’s side avoid a spectacular home collapse against an Athletic side missing both Nico and Inaki Williams, they will book their spot in the final in Bilbao on May 21. In the previous round, Ferdinand and fellow co-commentator Robbie Savage could not contain their excitement when Harry Maguire completed an unbelievable turnaround to beat Lyon. Ferdinand was set to be at Old Trafford for the Europa League semi-finalCredit: Getty More

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      Tottenham in Europa League chaos as cheeky Bodo/Glimt fans set off fireworks outside hotel at 2.30am

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      TOTTENHAM’S players had their sleep disrupted ahead of their crunch Europa League semi-final second leg by cheeky Bodo/Glimt supporters letting off fireworks.Pyrotechnics exploded outside the team’s hotel down by the waterfront in the sleepy town of Bodo up in the Arctic Circle at around 2.30am.Bodo/Glimt fans set off fireworks outside Tottenham’s waterfront hotel at 2:30amCredit: Not known, clear with picture deskSpurs face their biggest match in recent years tonight in the Arctic CircleCredit: RexThe disturbance happened as the Spurs squad were trying to get their rest in before the biggest game of their season.They face Norwegian champions Glimt on their tricky plastic pitch on Thursday evening having won the first leg 3-1 last week in North London.But they will be wary of Glimt’s excellent home record which has seen the Scandinavians beat Porto, Red Star Belgrade, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olympiakos, FC Twente and Lazio already this season.It is not the first time Spurs have had fireworks let off by pesky home supporters the night before a European game.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe same thing happened ahead of their January Europa League group game in Hoffenheim, as well as in Marseille in the Champions League back in 2022.Spurs’ preparations had already been hit by the loss of James Maddison to a season-ending knee injury sustained in the first leg.SunSport understands the England star has damaged his medial ligament and is facing three months on the sidelines, putting him at risk of missing the start of next season.Boss Ange Postecoglou, who has had an unrelenting amount of injuries to deal with this term, said during his Wednesday press conference: “He’ll miss the rest of this season. Most read in Sport“I’m disappointed for him more than anything else because he’s been a big catalyst for us. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS“He’ll miss out but that’s been a constant of our season, dealing with these things, so we’ll overcome that. Everyone else from the first leg has travelled and they’re ready to go.”Captain Son Heung-min is also absent due to a nagging foot injury, but £65million striker Dominic Solanke is back fit after missing West Ham on Sunday with a quad issue.Top 10 highest-paid Premier League starsSpurs are bidding to save their season – and possibly Postecoglou’s job – by going all the way in Europe, having plummeted to 16th in the Premier League. More

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      Enzo Maresca says Chelsea ‘are back’ but vows Blues will ‘win and bin’ Conference League as they target Europe’s elite

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      ENZO MARESCA claims Chelsea “are back” if they win the Conference League.The Blues — who last lifted a pot in February 2022 at the Club World Cup — are one step from the final.Enzo Maresca wants to win the Conference LeagueCredit: GettyChelsea are preparing for the second leg of the semi-finalCredit: PAChelsea beat Djurgarden 4-1 in the first legCredit: GettyAnd they will be the first club to win all four major European trophies if they go all the way.Maresca said: “It’s the only trophy that Chelsea haven’t won in the past and we can become the first club in Europe to win all the European competitions. So it’s good for the club.“Winning the Conference League trophy is a statement in terms of that.“You can say Chelsea are back because first of all you win a trophy and it’s more a way to start and to build a winning mentality with this squad.”READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Conference League is considered a third-rate tournament way below the Blues’ lofty ambitions.Chelsea — who have previously locked the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup trophies in their cabinet — are putting a positive spin on it to lift the fans.Maresca also wants to boost the confidence of the Prem’s youngest squad — and a team of kids likely to include the likes of Tyrique George, 19.Beating Prem champs Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday has given Chelsea a boost.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSForward Cole Palmer followed up his goal by enjoying his 23rd birthday on Tuesday.Maresca said: “Cole had a good game against Liverpool, scored a goal, and then he celebrated his birthday.Chelsea star Cole Palmer explains how 100 versions of himself would beat one gorillaChelsea beat Liverpool on the weekend to boost their Champions League hopesCredit: GettyCole Palmer broke his goal drought with to make it 3-1Credit: Alamy“We had a session, I don’t know if he did something different, but he’s in a good mood.”Chelsea will have less than 72 hours to recover from their semi-final second leg against Swedish side Djurgardens before an important match at Newcastle — one of their main rivals for a Champions League place next season.Maresca said: “Last week we arrived here in the UK at 4-5 o’clock in the morning from Sweden and then Sunday we had the game.“It will be the same this weekend but we’re going to try to be ready for this game and for Sunday’s game.”Chelsea enjoy a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg but Maresca will not ease up with his tactics.He said: “We try for every game to start with the best XI.”Despite the aim to win the competition, Maresca suggested it is a “win it and bin it mission”.The manager is already setting his sights on more glamorous competitions moving forward.He said: “Hopefully in the future we can be in different competitions but, at the moment, the reality is the reality.”We need to start from there. We’re playing in the Conference League.”If you play in the Conference you cannot win the Champions League — if you play in the Conference League you cannot win the Europa League.”If you play in the Conference the only trophy you can win is this. We’ll try our best to reach the final and then to win it.”It’s a good starting point to start to build a winning mentality and win games and trophies.”I try to convince the players that first of all, day by day, you have to build the winner’s mentality, try to win from the play-off and try to win this competition.”Victory in Poland on May 28 is purely an unromantic box-ticking exercise, designed to trigger a new era of success at Stamford Bridge in bigger and better competitions.In 2019, it was a similar story when Maurizio Sarri led them to the Europa League title against Arsenal in Azerbaijan.Chelsea had already finished third to qualify for the next season’s Champions League. The Europa League was a night out but an irrelevance.Maresca is painting an upbeat vision of the future as he approaches the end of his first season in charge. One full of highs and lows to reflect life at Chelsea.But it is also an honest admission of how far the club have fallen from their once domineering presence as serial champions.Chelsea have won the Champions League twice in their recent historyCredit: GettyThe most recent success came in 2021 as the Blues beat Man CityCredit: AFPA staggering 19 trophies in the 19 years under former owner Roman Abramovich, then turmoil.Turmoil of Abramovich’s fire sale in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, the emergency takeover by an American-led consortium, plus five managers in just over three years.And more than a billion quid splurged assembling a squad which finished sixth last season and 12th the year before.Even for a club that once tried to electrocute their own fans with high-voltage perimeter fencing, that is a dramatic turn of events.If Abramovich was still in charge, it is unlikely Chelsea would be stooping so low as to face Sweden’s 11th best team in Europe’s third-rate competition.Maresca admits Chelsea deserve to be where they are — a launchpad to success.As a midfielder, Maresca won three European trophies: the old Uefa Cup twice and the Super Cup with Sevilla.This came after landing the Italian title with Juventus. All of the triumphs are stepping stones.He said: “It’s important because it shapes you a little bit. All the experience.“Probably the best experience in terms of winning mentality was with Juventus. It’s a club where you realise even in training sessions you want to win the small-sided game.“So it’s a winner’s mentality. It’s nice to win trophies because you learn how to win.“We mentioned many times that Chelsea is a big club with many important trophies in the past.“But we need to learn how to win with this squad.”Captain Reece James is a Champions League winner. Vice-skipper Enzo Fernandez was part of the World Cup-winning Argentina squad in 2022.There are other gongs scattered here and there but, by and large, the Chelsea dressing room does not mirror the club’s glittering past.Maresca is wary of Djurgardens despite his team’s commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg.Chelsea beat Legia Warsaw 3-0 away in the last round and crashed to a  2-1 defeat at home in the second leg because they felt too comfortable.Read More on The SunMaresca chastised his players for that performance and will not tolerate a repeat. He said: “After the first leg, I said that the second game against Warsaw was not good enough.“So that experience hopefully is going to help us, the players and us, to win again and continue to build the momentum.”Win a trip to the UEFA Conference League Final in Wroclaw with Hankook More

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      ‘Spurs does crazy things to people’ – Postecoglou takes swipe at Wenger as Arsenal legend proposes shock rule change

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU has hit back at Arsene Wenger after he claimed the Europa League winners should NOT get a Champions League spot.Tottenham go into their semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt with a 3-1 lead as they look to qualify for Europe’s elite competition next season.Ange Postecoglou has hit back at Arsene Wenger’s remarksCredit: RexWenger said the Europa League winners should not be in the Champions League next seasonCredit: SplashBut ahead of tomorrow’s huge tie, legendary Arsenal boss Wenger said Uefa need to look at ditching the rule that rewards the Europa League champions.Spurs manager Postecoglou hit back when asked about the comments, saying: “Well, that’s a debate that’s been raging for years, mate… at least the last eight days.”I’ve said it before mate, Spurs does crazy things to people, it does.”You put that club into any sentence or any issue, and invariably they all come out to diminish as much as they can.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Why wasn’t it an issue before and it’s an issue now? What’s the difference? I don’t understand what the difference is.”Last year fifth didn’t get you Champions League, this year it does. There are competition rules.“I’ve got a great respect for Arsene but it does crazy things to people – I love it. “But it’s Spurs mate, they love it. They love it.”Most read in Europa LeagueBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKThe rule that the Europa League winners qualify for the Champions League has been around since the 2014-15 campaign.But Wenger is not a fan of it, saying on BeIN Sports: “No – they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League.Ange Postecoglou gives bleak update on Tottenham future even if he wins Europa League “Especially when you’re in the Premier League where already five teams qualify.”I think it’s something (for Uefa) to think about and to review.”On the other hand people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated you need to give them that prize.” More

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      ‘We lose our minds’ – Amorim fears conceding three to Bilbao as he calls Man Utd ‘worst team in Prem since I arrived’

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      RUBEN AMORIM is worried about losing to Athletic Bilbao as his team have a tendency to “lose our minds”.Manchester United take a commanding 3-0 lead into Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.Ruben Amorim admits his team cannot control a game and they need to score another to go through to the finalCredit: EPABut despite the scoreline, Amorim believes the tie is far from over as his players could capitulate and leak goals like they did in recent games to Lyon and Brentford.The manager admitted in his pre-match press conference: “We cannot control, we cannot say what is going to happen. “There are some teams that understand the game is going to be like this. “It can change a little bit but the story is going to be like this and you can control the narrative of the game. But we cannot do that.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”We have to face the game as one more game, to win it, I feel we need to score to go to the next round.”We use Brentford, we are near a draw then we suffer a goal and another goal quite fast.”We will have to suffer a bit to go to the final and we are ready to suffer.”Asked what Man Utd will turn up tomorrow, Amorim said: “Sometimes during the game we are one team and something happens and we then we lose our mind a little bit.Most read in Europa LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”But we are improving the way we play, we are more confident and ready to face this challenge.”As they edge closer to silverware, Amorim was asked about when he labelled his side the “worst Man Utd team in history” back in January.Amorim is officially WORST Man Utd manager of post-Sir Alex Ferguson era as under-fire boss admits- I’m underperformingAmorim has not changed his mind despite the Europa League run, replying: “If you look to the Premier League, since I arrive, we are the worst team in terms of results. “In the end of this season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history but with a European title. That will change nothing.”We know that this season was really disappointing for everybody, nothing is going to change. “This season was the worst one, I don’t know if in history but, for sure, in the last 50 years.” More

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      Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao FREE BETS: Get up to £40 bonus to spend on football with talkSPORT BET

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      MANCHESTER UNITED bring a 3-0 lead over Athletic Bilbao back to Old Trafford on Thursday as they look to book a Europa League final place.And brand new talkSPORT BET customers can claim up to £40 in free bets when they register an account and stake at least £20 on the semi final second leg.Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao: Get up to £40 in free bets – Claim here*Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles hereHow to claim talkSPORT BET offertalkSPORT BETVisit the talkSPORT website HERE*Create an account and Opt In to this promotion via the OFFERS tabMake a depositPlace your first bet up to £40, minimum £20, on any football market, at odds of Evens or greaterYou must do this within 7 days of registrationOnce that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with up to £40 free bets based on your first betFor example, if you stake £20, you will receive 4 x £5 free betsIf you stake £40 you would receive the full 4 x £10 free betstalkSPORT BET: Get up to £40 in free bets – Claim Here*Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao: Get up to £40 in free bets – Claim here*What’s the offer?Brand new talkSPORT BET customers can claim a welcome bonus of up to £40 when they register an account.How to claim?Simply visit the talkSPORT BET website on your mobile device and create an account. Opt in to this promotion via the OFFERS tab and then make a deposit via debit card or Apple Pay.Stake £20 or more on any football market at odds of at least Evens. Remember, you must do this within 7 days of opening your account.What happens next?Once that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with up to £40 free bets based on your first bet bet.For example, if you stake £20, you will receive 4 x £5 free bets. If you stake £40 you would receive the full 4 x £10 free bets:On settlement of your qualifying bet, your account will be credited with the following:£10 free bet – Bet Builder (if your qualifying bet is £20, you will only receive a £5 free bet)£10 free bet – Correct Score (if your qualifying bet is £20, you will only receive a £5 free bet)And the following free bets, which will be credited 24 hours after the first bonus funds:£10 free bet – To Win and Both Team to Score – 90 mins (if your qualifying bet is £20, you will only receive a £5 free bet)£10 free bet – Acca 4+ selection (if your qualifying bet is £20, you will only receive a £5 free bet)*18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile device, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsiblyRemember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – gamcare.org.ukGambleAware – GambleAware.orgRead our guide on responsible gambling practices.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. More