We went, we saw and we got conquered.......

       It was always going to be an uphill task. The fact that we scored 1 was always going to be overshadowed by the the fact they scored 2. Even over two legs, they were the better team. United horrendus European form set up a farewell last night, not a very unexpected one, one even many of the most optimistic travelling supporters had braced themselves for. United got what they deserved, so did Athletic.

      There are always lessons to learn from every football match, whether you win or lose," Sir Alex told Channel 5. "It's disappointing more than anything. We haven't progressed in the Champions League and now we're out of the Europa League. I think the best team went through. I don't think we can complain." The best team did win and they did in style. One wondered how long Bilbao could continue their high tempo game.....and 90 minutes they lasted. In all fairness to United they had the ball for an equal time but most of it was in defense.


     United went behind in 23 minutes, as our man to watch, Llorente was unwatched and controlled the ball beautifully with a combo of chest, shoulder and leg and lashed a sublime volley into the goal. Remember the Van Persie goal against Everton, in december i think? This was Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V. Cleverly had a legit penalty claim rejected, and Llorente went out injured.


   Bilbao looked like scoring a few times in the opening stages in the first half, but United hung on until at the 65th when Iraola escaped on the right for the umpteenth time and delivered a centre that dropped at the feet of De Marcos, who should have put Bilbao ahead in the 14th minute only to slice horribly wide after Muniain's shot had come back off the upright. This time the midfielder made no mistake and slotted it home. Roo grabbed a consolation though as he curled a ball from his right after shrugging of his man. 


 United may win the League but the Old Trafford faithful would be reminded that in Europe they have won just 3 games this season and two of those were against Oetul Galati. Bilbao decided to put up quite a show for United, and got out this tie far far better they would have predicted after the draw. United have seen that they need to improve a lot, not to face Real Madrid, but even to face a team 33 points beneath Madrid in the Liga. 


  The sole solace is that this is a United team in transition, and to be fair United shouldn't even be there at the top of the Premier League, and they wouldn't if other teams around them hadn't collapsed so disastrously. The mighty Arsenal, the solid Chelsea, and Spurs who were once title contendors, all gone. 


    But this is a team in transition, so I'd say, well done.

Beat.........again...

     Old Trafford wasn't the best place for an United fan last evening. The tactical plans (If they were any) were falling apart all over the pace, Bilbao were allowed to launch attack after attack, and Manchester United eventually lost. The Spanish side were allowed a firm grasp on United's jugular throughout the match and bit in, not once but thrice.

    The side from Bilbao started the first half on the front foot and United left huge, massive gaps on the pitch uncovered, supplementing Athletic's penetration. To be fair to United, they did launch some pretty good counter attacks, and one of them lead to a goal by Wayne Rooney. The whole move was orchestrated  by Ryan Giggs who played the game in the middle of the park, but I'll get to that later. The Welshman probed into the final third, and played a splendid ball to Hernandez who swerved away from his marker and fired a low shot intended for the bottom corner. Iraizov got to it but couldn't recollect the rebound and Rooney took it in it stride to guide the ball into the net.

    Bilbao weren't demotivated, no sir. They started where they'd left of. Their quick movement proved to quick for United. Which brings this blogger to his point. Why did Sir Alex field Giggs and Park in the central mid-field position? Admittedly they are experienced, but they are slow, and against a faster three they were no match and they proved it. And as the play shifted across the field, the whole structure of United's central mid-field swayed. So did the defence, except they didn't sway, they just kept breaking. De Gea, probably United's man of the match for a few games now was the only string that prevented from Athletic handing out a real hammering.

  But even the Spaniard couldn't help when his compatriot Llorente collected the ball at the edge of the penalty area, played it wide, and ran it to convert the incoming, resulting cross, helped Bilbao comeback on level terms.

  United's attacks still had the sting in attack though and almost scored a few times themselves. Ferguson's half time team talk helped a little as United slowly saw more of the ball. More, but not enough. Athletic were still allowed to keep up their tiki-taka and in the stroke of the hour, they scored and this time through De Marcus who was offside but not given.

  United suddenly had more of the ball, but just like time and time again this season, they lacked the finishing edge. But then the tide turned as Bilbao were given a free kick in their half due to Patrice Evra's boot flying off.  Instead of customarily playing it to the keeper, the side from Spain who had been exemplary all evening decided to keep the ball.....This blogger feels that was an utter disgrace to their performance........But anyway De Marcos got it and drove it at De Gea and the shot stopper did what he does best, saved it. But Rafael who should have cleared it assumed that the Spaniard would recollect himself in a split second and reclaim the rebound, and the lurking Munian took advantage and put Athletico 3-1 ahead. United did get a Rooney goal from a penalty but have plenty to improve if they are to get to the quarter finals, which going by their European form this yer, they probably won't.