Amorim's enigmas on the verge of glory or ignomy

It is Manchester United against Athletic Bilbao.

- RICHARD JOLLY

Although, in some respects, it is Manchester United against Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim unsure which United will turn up and, indeed, if the side who start a game will finish it. They can be their own worst enemies. They may soon be officially the Europa League’s best team.

They might be the Amorim enigmas. “In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title,” said a head coach who has overseen the sort of form that should be impossible for a club with United’s resources.

Amorim has taken just 24 points from 24 Premier League games. United are 15th. They are also the only unbeaten side in all three European competitions this season, showing a winning habit that has eluded them on their domestic duties.

They have one foot in the Europa League final and yet Amorim was not merely guarding against complacency in his uncertain appraisal of their prospects in a semi-final second leg. “If you look at our team, we cannot say today what is going to happen,” he insisted.

The counterargument is that, actually, this time it is possible to say. United won the first leg 3-0 in Bilbao. Athletic are without their three best attacking players, the injured contingent of Nico and Inaki Williams plus top scorer Oihan Sancet, while their finest defender, Dani Vivian, is suspended. On 133 previous occasions, an away team has won a Europa League or Uefa Cup first leg by at least three goals. On all 133, they then went through at home.