Manchester United fans are convinced that Athletic Club are playing mind games ahead of the second-leg of their Europa League semi-final.
After winning their first-leg in Bilbao convincingly, Manchester United have a three-goal lead heading back to Old Trafford this week in the Europa League semi-final.
Athletic Club will still provide a fight and Ruben Amorim’s men must be fully prepared for the game to ensure their progression to the final of the European tournament.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro were the goalscorers last week in a 3-0 win over the Spanish side, although the did have a player sent off in the first-half.
Anything can happen in football, and United are looking to try and limit their opposition while securing their ticket back to Bilbao, where the final will be played later this month.
Athletic Club, meanwhile, will be trying to do every trick in the book to launch a comeback against the Premier League outfit.
United fans suspect Athletic Club mind games
It was revealed at the beginning of this week that Nico Williams was absent from Athletic Club training. He was not involved in their 0-0 La Liga draw against Real Sociedad on the weekend.
On Tuesday, El Chiringuito explained that the young winger was training individually while Oihan Sancet and Iñaki Williams were not involved in the session.
Those are three of Athletic Club’s main offensive threats, but United fans are unconvinced that they are actually injured and suspect that this may be a tactic from the Spanish side.
“So obvious they are playing mind games to get United to be complacent. Come match day all their main players will start the game,” one fan speculated.
Another wrote: “But you can bet your bottom dollar that they will be playing on Thursday”
“Their whole front 3 is supposedly out. Something is fishy,” a third added.
United must focus on themselves
The Spanish are known for their mind games – just look at the build-up to that Real Madrid vs Arsenal game last month in the Champions League.
It would be no surprise to see the Williams brothers and Sancet involved in the game on Thursday, but it shouldn’t be any concern of United.
Amorim’s men can only lose this encounter if they lose focus. If they are fully prepared heading into the game, it doesn’t really matter who the La Liga side put on the pitch.
United have shot themselves in the foot too often in recent years, so a dominant performance on Thursday could help suggest that they are turning that mental corner.
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