Bilbao won´t sit back, says Bielsa

Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa says his side will be looking to win when they host Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday.

Bilbao won the first leg 3-2 at Old Trafford on March 2, but both Bielsa and defender Andoni Iraola know the tie is far from over and the coach feels his side must be positive in Thursday’s second leg.

“We have the obvious numeric advantage after we got from the result in Manchester so we’ll start this match with a 1-0 advantage,” Bielsa said.

“However we play for 90 minutes tomorrow and this cannot be ignored and we shouldn’t think that we’ve already won.”

“I think that the only way for tomorrow to be good for us is to make sure we beat Manchester.”

Iraola feels Bilbao will have to be at their best to knock out the English champions.

“We did play a good match in Manchester but the match that will define who goes through to the next phase is the one we play tomorrow,” the right-back said.

“In that sense if we want to go through, tomorrow we will have to do a great job for the full 90 minutes.”

“I think that before starting the tie, Manchester United were the favourites to go through. Now the tie is open, we have a goal advantage but both teams have a chance of reaching the next phase.”