Mount’s hard work paid off with Bilbao brace: Amorim

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim had glowing praise for Mason Mount after he came off the bench to score twice in the 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Thursday which sealed their place in the Europa League final.

Second-half substitute Mount scored the equaliser for United just 10 minutes after coming on, and struck again in added time as the hosts secured a 7-1 aggregate win and a place in the final against Tottenham Hotspur.

The England midfielder joined United in 2023 but has struggled with several injuries this season, including a head injury in September that kept him out for over a month and a muscle issue in December that sidelined him until March.

The 26-year-old scored his first Premier League goal of the season in Sunday’s 4-3 loss at Brentford, before becoming the first United substitute to score twice in a European knockout match since David Beckham against Real Madrid in 2003.

“I’m so happy for him. He is such a player. He works really hard, he has quality,” Amorim said at his post-match press conference.

“When you see that kind of guy like Mason working hard every day, eating well, having ice baths, when you have this kind of player you just want to help him.

“He is perfect for this position as he can be a midfielder, but also runs like a winger.”

Forward Rasmus Hojlund, who scored United’s third, said Mount had worked hard to overcome multiple injuries and did not deserve the criticism he had received.

“He’s been getting a lot of stick because he’s had a couple of injuries, but he’s always been positive, trying to help and trying to get fit all the time,” he told TNT Sports.

“He’s only had one goal, to get back on the pitch and ... do what he did today.”

Postecoglou hits back as Spurs reach Europa League final: Ange Postecoglou accused his critics of trying to ‘tear down’ Tottenham’s run to the Europa League final as a 2-0 win at Bodo/Glimt kept alive the under-fire Australian’s bid to end their 17-year trophy drought.

Postecoglou’s side will face Manchester United in the final in Bilbao on May 21 after securing a 5-1 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg in Norway.

Having won the first leg 3-1 last week, Postecoglou would have been hammered by his growing army of doubters if Tottenham had blown their chance to reach the final.

But second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro ensured the much-maligned manager still has a chance to fulfil his boast that he always wins a trophy in his second season.

Despite languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, Europa League glory for Tottenham would secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Whether that will be enough to spare Postecoglou from the axe is another matter.

The 59-year-old has admitted the general perception outside Tottenham is he faces the sack regardless of the Europa League run because their domestic form has been so bad.

With three games left in the top-flight season, Tottenham are in danger of their worst finish since they were relegated in 1976-77.

United are just one place above Tottenham in the English top flight after an equally woeful campaign.

United boss Ruben Amorim has said winning the Europa League won’t save their season from being a failure.

But the combative Postecoglou came out fighting when that was put to him during his press conference after the second leg.

“What do I care what Manchester United think? Why is that relevant to me? Ask the Manchester United manager why he said that. Me, I’ve said all along this is important,” Postecoglou said.

“You know better than me, you follow this club more than I have. What do you think a trophy would do for this club? The question answers itself. It doesn’t need me.

“You know what’s happening right now is people are fearing that it actually might happen.

“Because it might happen let’s see how we can tear it down somehow and diminish it somehow by saying it’s been a poor season and we don’t deserve this or we don’t deserve that.”

Agencies