Where do I even start?
This was one of the most important matches of our season. Even with a 3-goal lead from the first leg, I was tense. And when I reached the pubs at Exchange Square and Hotel Football, I wasn’t alone. Everyone looked nervous. The season was riding on this game. The ticket to the Champions League. Extra funds. Summer signings. It all starts from this match.
Names like Cunha, Delap, Mbeumo, Semenyo, Ederson, even Gyökeres have been floating around. Some of them won’t happen without Champions League football. So yeah, this night mattered.
Old Trafford. European Night. Vibes.
I made it to Old Trafford around 4:30 PM. Saw the players arrive. Casemiro walked in with full focus. Rasmus came over to sign shirts and have a quick chat with fans. Nice gesture from him, and honestly needed, because on the pitch he hasn’t matched last season’s standards.
Gates opened at 7. The buzz inside was unreal. I got in early just to soak it all in. Not the best seats but I’m not complaining — got general sale tickets for the biggest home game of the season after queueing since 7 AM.
Around 7:30, the stadium was filling up. Players were warming up. And then at 7:55, the new tifo dropped: “Take me home United Road.” Absolute goosebumps. Red flares, fireworks, full Stretford End singing the chant. It was cinema. That’s how you start a European night.
First half panic
Kick-off at 8. We were getting pressed hard by Athletic. First five minutes, pure nerves. Bilbao were flying, creating chances, pushing us back. Our midfield looked open. Ugarte was struggling. Casemiro doesn’t have the legs to cover everything anymore, even though he still holds the structure.
Then it happened. At the 30th minute, Maguire played a sloppy pass. It got intercepted. Djalo took a shot that deflected off Yoro, and the rebound fell to Jauregizar. He finessed it right into the top corner. Onana couldn’t do anything about it. 1–0 to Athletic. Tension returned instantly.
42nd minute — Dorgu plays a lovely through ball. Garnacho runs through one-on-one. Everyone in the ground expecting a chip, like his academy days. But he missed. Big chance wasted. And just like that, halftime. We were losing 1–0 and suddenly only had a 2-goal cushion. Everyone was sweating.
Second half redemption
We started the second half more focused. And at 62 minutes, Amorim made changes that changed the match. Garnacho, Ugarte, and Mazraoui off. Shaw, Mount, and Amad on.
From the moment Amad came in, you could see it. He was smooth. Moving with the ball like it’s glued to his foot. Mount looked sharp too. We had control. We looked like we actually wanted it.
71st minute, Leny Yoro carried the ball from defence like a prime ball-playing CB. Skipped past one player, passed to Mount. Mount did a quick turn, shifted the ball with one touch, and curled it into the bottom corner. Beautiful goal. 1–1. Aggregate 4–1. That was it. The crowd exploded. You knew we were going to the final now.
One-way traffic from here
After the equaliser, Old Trafford came alive. The noise, the chants, the belief — we were going to Bilbao.
Then came the second. A set piece. Bruno with the delivery. Casemiro, running away from goal, somehow flicks a backwards header into the top of the net. 2-1. And just like that, it was 5-1 on aggregate.
Casemiro has had his critics. And fair enough, he’s not got the legs anymore. But the man knows how to deliver in big games. Pure experience. Reads the game well. Uses every bit of his quality when it matters.
A few minutes later, Amad slices the defence with a perfect pass to Højlund. Tap in. Easy. 3-1 United. That goal was big for both. Højlund needed it. Amad deserved it.
And then came the cherry on top.
Beckham moment from Mount
Additional time. Their keeper comes out to clear the ball — messes it up. Mount intercepts, takes a long touch, sets up the shot like Beckham. Left-footed from almost the halfway line. One defender tries to jump and stop it, fails. Ball glides perfectly into the net.
4–1. Mount ends it in style. Amorim was smiling, proud. He clearly rates Mount highly. Said it before — he’s working hard to get back to his Chelsea levels.
Full time scenes
Whistle blows. 7–1 on aggregate. We’re heading to the Europa League Final against Spurs. Yes, Spurs. I am scared. Very scared. More on that later.
After full-time, chants filled the stadium. “Bruno, Bruno, Bruno” and “Ruben Amorim” over and over. Pure joy. I didn’t write this blog right away — had to travel back by bus because my train wasn’t confirmed. Ten-hour trip. But totally worth it. Nights like this are what football is all about.
What’s next?
Honestly, I’m scared. Spurs are Spurs. But the final is never easy. We’re favourites, but that’s when things get dangerous. I’ll talk more about them in the build-up post.
As for now, what a night. What a trip. I travelled back by bus — 10 hours. I needed a break before writing this. But worth it. Every second of it. The Amorim chants after full-time. The buzz in the stadium. That Mount goal. Everything.
One more game. One more big night.
Yanited forever.
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
Leave a comment