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Amorim praises ‘perfect’ Mount after driving Manchester United into final

A delighted Ruben Amorim praised “perfect” two-goal Mason Mount, as Manchester United swept past Athletic Bilbao and into the Europa League final against Tottenham, with four late strikes in 19 minutes.

Ruben Amorim’s men trailed 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao following Mikel Jauregizar’s first-half opener at Old Trafford and led 3-1 on aggregate before Mount equalised on 72 minutes of the second leg. Goals from Casemiro and Rasmus Højlund, in the 79th and 85th minutes followed before Mount scored again in added-time’s first minute.

The 26-year-old’s opener came via an impressive pivot-and-curled finish, the second a precise 45-yard shot into Athletic’s empty net. The goals were Mount’s finest contribution for United following a series of injuries that have blighted him since he signed in summer 2023.

Amorim said: “I’m so happy for him. He is such a player. He works really hard, he has quality. When you see that kind of guy like Mason working hard every day, eating well, having ice baths, when you have this kind of player you just want to help him. He is perfect for this position as he can be a midfielder, but also runs like a winger so I’m really happy for him.

“Not just me – if you look at the bench, that is the best feeling as a coach, you look at the other guys on the bench and they are so happy for Mason Mount – everyone in that dressing room sees Mason Mount doing everything to be available. He is a really good player and both goals were really good.”

Mount entered on 62 minutes with Amad Diallo and Luke Shaw, as part of a triple change from Amorim that the head coach acknowledged “changed the game”.

“That is credit to the players,” he added. “I felt we needed a bit more energy. We needed to keep the ball.”

United are down in 15th and guaranteed to finish in their lowest Premier League place. Amorim was asked what claiming the Europa League in the final at the San Mamés Stadium on Wednesday week would represent.

He said: “Every coach will say the next one is the most important. Your first is the most important [at a club] because you want to establish yourself as a coach, but it would be massive especially after this season in the Premier League.

“I think that is clear [confidence would be boosted] – the money is not the most important and even to win a title as a coach is that feeling we can do good things, to give something to our fans. So I agree it is not just playing in the Champions League next season, it is that feeling we can change things.”

United have lost twice to Spurs in the league and once in the Carabao Cup this season.

“Every game has its history, we lost the three last games so we can win this one,” said Amorim. “You look at the odds, we are closer to win than lose. Both teams are going to play all or nothing.

“The position of the coach is similar, I know Ange [Postecoglou] has one more year but we are struggling both of us [in our jobs]. That is the good thing. The bad thing with this team? I never know. We have to understand that a final is completely different from the Premier League.”

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