Manchester United’s tricky assignment against Athletic Club may be about to get even trickier. Ruben Amorim needs to mastermind a win over the Basque club in the Europa League semi-finals to rescue United’s sorry season, but he will be up against a manager with expert advice in his back pocket from a boss who has the Red Devils’ number.
United won a 5-4 second-leg blockbuster to get past Lyon in the quarter-finals, and their upcoming semi could be similarly tough. The form table is with Athletic Club, who sit fourth in La Liga with only five defeats in 33 games. Amorim’s side, meanwhile, are 14th in the Premier League and on a run of five domestic games without a victory.
Bilbao legend and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola wants to make sure the odds are stacked even further against United. The 42-year-old made more than 500 appearances for Athletic Club and worked under Valverde for two of the manager’s three spells in charge.
Asked if he would get on the phone to Valverde in order to share his insight on the Red Devils, Iraola said: “Yes, probably we will speak. We have a very good relationship. He has probably been the most special coach I’ve ever had and I wish him the best.
“We are very lucky, the Athletic Club supporters, to have him right now. I hope he goes all the way and wins it, because he fully deserves it. I’m not going to hide it that I also want Athletic Club to win the Europa League. So definitely I will also support Athletic Club.”
Results this campaign suggest that Iraola’s advice is not to be scoffed at. He oversaw a resounding 3-0 win at Old Trafford in January, and came within minutes of doing the double over them on Sunday.
Antoine Semenyo had put the Cherries ahead on home soil before Evanilson was sent off midway through the second half. United equalised through Rasmus Hojlund in the depths of stoppage time, but the game served as new evidence that Iraola knows how to hurt Amorim and his players.
Athletic Club have an added incentive to dispatch United, as they are only two legs away from a prospective Europa League final in their own San Mames stadium.
The Red Devils have their own major source of motivation, as an overall Europa League victory is the only way they can secure European football for next season.