After a crucial 3-1 victory away to Spurs at the weekend, United looked to transfer their good league form into Europe, with the visit of Athletic Club to Old Trafford in the first knockout round of the Europa League. Having scraped past Ajax in the previous round, and largely struggling at home in Europe all season, the reds would need to be on top form in order to overcome an Athletic side sitting 5th in La Liga under the tutelage of new manager Marcelo Bielsa, and with star men such as Fernando Llorente and Iker Munain leading their charge up the table. For United, a strong side containing Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, and Jonny Evans were charged with ensuring a solid start ahead of the second leg in Bilbao in a weeks time.
Hopes that United would return to their former dominant selves in Europe were quickly banished by a frenetic opening to the game, with Bilbao controlling the ball, and looking dangerous, but vulnerable to the penetrating United counter attacks. Llorente’s fantastic hold up play allowed the Spanish international to turn and fire off a right footed shot narrowly wide, the first in a long line of warning’s for the United keeper David De Gea. The visitors were aggrieved to not be awarded a penalty, as Chris Smalling appeared to haul Llorente to the ground, the referee waved away protests, and United capitalised, as minutes later, Javier Hernandez’s left footed shot was parried out to the onrushing Rooney who slotted United into a somewhat undeserved lead. (More …)
tony is discussing. 
Evra – 4 Positionally hopeless. Say’s it all ,He’s been like this all season.I’m really struggling to remember if he was a good defender or not?