MANCHESTER — One lucky Manchester United supporter will have woken up this morning with Amad Diallo’s beaming face on his phone – the selfie all Instagrammers around the world crave most.
Perched next to a similarly jubilant Rasmus Hojlund, Amad grabbed the fortunate fan’s phone to celebrate with his close friend having created something out of nothing, the celebratory grin content in the knowledge how much his beleaguered team have missed him over the past few months.
Amad has been a gem in a cairn of crumbling Old Trafford stones this term. The difference he made in terms of quality, hunger and confidence to run at players when he came on to stun a bedazzled Athletic Bilbao should embarrass his misfiring teammates around him.
Not for the first time this season, the Ivorian’s effervescence wrestled victory from the jaws of another defeat to send his team through to a season-saving Europa League final.
All by simply wanting it more, showing for the ball and taking the attack to his opponents – all of which have been too confined to a bygone era in the decaying post-Sir Alex Ferguson wilderness years.
As a timely support act, in becoming the first United substitute to score a brace in European knockout football in 22 years, nobody deserved to fire his team to a major European final more than Mason Mount.
His first goal had echoes of Federico Macheda as he killed off the Bilbao resistance, before the icing on the cake late on, United’s fourth from fully 45 yards, had more David Beckham overtones.
MASON MOUNT WHAT A GOAL!
He drives the ball from just beyond the halfway line to get his second of the evening
@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/LNAt0fQT4B
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2025
For 70 minutes, however, it looked like we had the remontada to end all remontadas on our hands at a nervy Old Trafford suffering from another bout of déjà vu in this most bizarre campaign.
“Amad gave us that spark you need to change the game,” Ruben Amorim said. “I felt we needed more energy, and he brought this.
“Mason Mount, I am so happy for him. It is important for every player but when you see that kind of guy working hard every day, eating well, resting ice bath, he does everything, when you have this kind of player you just want to help him and then the quality he has.”
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Amorim’s post-match reaction to a flattering 4-1 success would have been so very different but for the impact of his substitutes.
The issue an unusually raucous Old Trafford had pre-match, after another tinpot pyrotechnics display that was more Vertu Trophy than elite European competition, was that Premier League United showed up in a nervy, erroneous first-half display that belied their seemingly unassailable position in the semi-final tie.
On a momentous day for Catholics worldwide, 3-0 up from the first leg United too should have had an air of papal infallibility about them, against a Bilbao side without their four best players through injury or suspension – both Williams brothers, top goalscorer Oihan Sancet and defender Dani Vivian.
The visitors, inexplicably however, dominated the opening period without even having to throw caution to the wind.
Premier League United could barely string a pass together. Every time the visitors launched an attack, the hosts parted like the red sea – it was Groundhog Day around M16 once more.
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Mikel Jaureguizar’s sublime curler, that just evaded the despairing dive from Andre Onana, gave home supporters an even more familiar sinking feeling.
Alejandro Garnacho should have levelled late into the first half after being put through by Patrick Dorgu – United’s only penetrative attack in the opening period – but elected to attempt to loft the ball over away goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, when he had no right to.
The referee’s whistle provided some light relief. Had the Williams brothers been fit, the tie could have been level by half time. The Williams sisters could cause United problems when they are in Premier League mode.
It could not continue like this. Step forward a player who, not so long ago, was seen as yet another United transfer failure and could not get close to the first team under Erik ten Hag.
Amad’s beating of his man helped create the opportunity for another superb substitute, Mount, to quash Basque dreams of a home final before, moments later, Casemiro really put the tie to bed from a corner, giving United a lead on the night they frankly did not deserve.
This angle of Man United's celebrations following Rasmus Højlund's goal against Athletic Club pic.twitter.com/sn3ChKB7N1
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2025
Amad was not done there, as he had Old Trafford gasping for breath dancing down the touchline, creating a game-clinching third even Hojlund could not miss, with that fortunate fan then getting the image they will never likely top.
Mount’s best night in a United shirt had the happiest of endings, too, with an arrowing fourth that sailed into the net like the ball was soaking up applause on its victory lap.
The celebration was full of emotion for a player who has endured more agony than ecstasy since joining from Chelsea, aware he has now given Amorim a welcome selection dilemma ahead of the final in two weeks’ time.
Should both Amad and Mount be fit, the decision over who is handed a starting Bilbao berth is a simple one to make. Step aside, Garnacho and Manuel Ugarte.
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