Bruno Fernandes commends Harry Maguire following a Manchester United victory in Bilbao that he could have never anticipated.

Bruno Fernandes has expressed his astonishment at Manchester United’s commanding position following their first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final. The United captain led his team to a stunning 3–0 victory over Athletic Club, scoring twice in a match that left the home fans at San Mames Stadium in disbelief.

The scoring was opened by Casemiro after just half an hour, setting the tone for what would become a remarkable evening for the Red Devils. The match took a pivotal turn when Athletic defender Daniel Vivian received a red card for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund in the penalty area. Fernandes stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, and just before half-time, he added another goal to put United firmly in control at 3–0.

“You can never predict a scoreline like that,” Fernandes told TNT Sports. “Obviously, they are a very tough team, and the atmosphere was unbelievable, crazy. I knew they were very passionate as a club, but I never thought it was like this. I love these atmospheres; I love to play in these kinds of stadiums.”

The Portuguese midfielder reflected on the match, stating, “The result for us is unbelievable. We could, in the first half, get that result and then in the second half, control the game. I think we should have pushed a little bit more in the second half, but we controlled the game, and that is good.”

Harry Maguire, who had already garnered praise for his performance in the quarter-final against Lyon, once again made a significant impact. Fernandes was quick to commend his teammate, saying, “I said straight away, what a winger! I don’t think even he thought he had that in his locker. No one was expecting that; I don’t think the opposition was expecting that to come.”

He continued, “Harry is a much more confident man now; things are coming through. He’s also getting goals, he’s defending very well, his positioning is becoming stronger, and he’s a very good leader. It’s a good thing for him, and we hope he just keeps improving because at this club, you need to keep improving all the time; you can’t just stop.”

The prospect of an all-English final is becoming increasingly likely, with Tottenham Hotspur also in a strong position after their 3–1 win over Bodo/Glimt in the other semi-final.

Looking ahead, United will face a trip to Brentford in the Premier League this Sunday, just four days before the crucial second leg against Athletic Club at Old Trafford, which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Should they successfully navigate the tie, United will return to Bilbao for the final at San Mames Stadium on Wednesday, 21 May.