The stage is now set for Ruben Amorim to unleash his key Manchester United first-team star in the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday evening.
Manchester United and Tottenham’s 2025 Europa League final encounter will be hosted at Athletic Club’s San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on 21st May.
The Red Devils have already played at the San Mames Stadium this season and United defeated 10-man Athletic Club 3-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Following United’s crucial advantage over Athletic Club in Spain earlier this month, the La Liga outfit were welcomed to Old Trafford for the return-leg match.
The Spanish side delivered the first blow of the tie by going 1-0 up ahead of half-time before United came from behind against Athletic Club after the break at home.
United thumped Athletic Club 4-1 in a sensational comeback win in the second half and the Red Devils punched their ticket to an all-English showdown in the final.
Spurs, meanwhile, defeated Bodo/Glimt 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Ange Postecoglou’s men won 2-0 against the Norwegian side in Norway.
The Red Devils are now within touching distance of the Europa League trophy and Ruben Amorim could bag his first piece of major silverware as United manager.
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Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim must see shades of Casemiro’s Real Madrid version in Man Utd’s display vs Tottenham in the 2025 Europa League final
Casemiro has seen a resurgence in form at Old Trafford and the Manchester United midfielder has once again become a key midfield influence for the Red Devils.
The 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder is under contract with United until 2026 and Casemiro’s future had been in doubt amid the 2024-25 season at Old Trafford.
However, Casemiro has seen a turnaround in fortunes in recent months and has established himself as a key United first-team player under manager Amorim.
The Brazil star has made 12 appearances in the 2024-25 Europa League run and Casemiro has shown his invaluable experience on the European stage for United.
Casemiro impressed United fans with his display against Real Sociedad in the second leg of the Europa League round-of-16 tie in the 4-1 win at Old Trafford.
The ex-Real Madrid star would later bag a hat-trick of assists in United’s sensational 5-4 comeback win over Lyon at Old Trafford in the second leg of the quarter-finals.
Casemiro has continued to exert his incredible influence from the heart of midfield and the Brazil international scored in both semi-final legs against Athletic Club.
The United star is all too familiar with the expectations of playing in a European final, having lifted a whopping five Champions League titles with Los Blancos.
There will be no doubt that Amorim will need to call upon Casemiro’s elite mentality in the Europa League again when United clash with Tottenham in the final.
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Ruben Amorim learned first-hand why Casemiro is important to his Man Utd plans for now amid the Europa League campaign
Amorim made his feelings clear on Casemiro’s rejuvenation under his reign at Old Trafford and highlighted the United midfielder’s incredible winning mentality.
“The important thing with Casemiro is that he won everything with Real Madrid,” he said in April, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“He wasn’t playing because I understood that in that moment, he wasn’t the best option for how we [wanted] to play and he continued to work.
“I look at my players in the same way. If you improve what we ask of them, they have the opportunity. If they play well, they continue to play.
“That was the situation for Casemiro. The credit is all [on] the player. He is our player and will continue to be our player.”
United and Tottenham’s Europa League showdown in the 2025 final at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao is scheduled for an 8pm kick-off time in the UK.