Manchester United were saved by super sub Mason Mount after producing a largely away performance in their Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao
Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee had two words of praise for Mason Mount after he was the star of their Europa League semi-final comeback. Mount, 26, finally announced himself as a United player after years of injury torment by scoring two excellent goals in a 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao and booked their ticket to the final.
The Red Devils found themselves behind at half-time and were facing the threat of a comeback, despite winning 3-0 in Bilbao last Thursday. After a terrible start to the second half, United manager Ruben Amorim turned to his substitutes and made a triple change on the hour mark.
Mount was among them and the former Chelsea star didn’t take long to make an impact. His swivelled finish made it 1-1, restoring United’s three-goal aggregate lead on 72 minutes.
With Bilbao broken, Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund capitalised by scoring goals of their own. But the best way yet to come, as Mount intercepted a weak clearance from goalkeeper Agirrezabala and hit the back of the net from roughly 35 yards to make it 7-1 on aggregate.
Post-match, the injured Zirkzee went down into the dressing room to congratulate him. “Serious guy,” the Dutchman posted as the caption to a video of him and Mount revelling in the victory.
READ MORE: Mason Mount inspires Man Utd to reach Europa League final – 6 talking pointsREAD MORE: Tottenham and Man Utd to face off in historic Europa League final this month
Mount himself was delighted with his contribution, having waited nearly to full seasons to score his first goals at Old Trafford. “It was too long [waiting for a night like that],” the midfielder told TNT Sports.
“I carried on going, working hard in training every day and tried to stay positive and when I had an opportunity to try to make an impact. Today it paid off and I came on and affected the game. It was a tight game when I came on, I just tried to calm it down.”
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Mount added on his stunning second goal: “When I saw him [the goalkeeper] come out I had it in my head if it comes to me, ‘first touch and shoot’. I didn’t want it to come on my left foot and then I was just trying to get it on target, same with the first goal, create the turn and try to get it in the net.
“The crowd has been unbelievable, they have stuck with us. For me, these were my first goals at Old Trafford, a night I’ve been waiting a long time for. To go back to Bilbao is a special moment and we want to finish strongly.”
United will face Tottenham in the final in Bilbao on Wednesday, May 21.
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