Mason Mount scored a brace to lead Manchester United to a 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao to seal their place in the final of the 2024-25 Europa League.
The Red Devils sealed a 7-1 aggregate victory to advance to the final of the competition.
Mikel Jauregizar gave the visitors the lead with a thumping effort from outside the box in the 31st minute.
Mount came off the bench to equalise in the 72nd minute before Casemiro, and Højlund added two goals to make it 3-1.
The former Chelsea midfielder added his second goal of the match in the 91st minute to wrap up a deserved victory for the hosts.
Mount became the first substitute to score a brace in a European knockout match for Manchester United since David Beckham against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in April 2003.
The Red Devils will now face Tottenham in the Europa League final on May 21 in Bilbao, Spain.
Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has urged his side to go all the way to bring the trophy to Old Trafford.
He said: “I’m just worried about the next game, trying to not get any injuries for the final. If we don’t win the final, it means nothing for us.
“We have to have a full squad [against Tottenham], stay in the game and have a bit of luck and we have to be clinical.
“It’s quite similar for me and Ange [Postecoglou]. It is a tough moment [for us both] and one of us is going to win. It’s going to be a big final and we will try to win.
“It’s hard to describe what it’s like to be manager of this club and you want to give them [the fans] something because we were so disappointing in the Premier League. We want to give something to the fans.”
Mount opened up on his stunning second goal from the halfway line to seal a 4-1 win for Manchester United.
He was delighted to open his goal account at Old Trafford.
Mount said: “It was too long [waiting for a night like that. I carried on going, working hard in training every day and tried to stay positive and when I had an opportunity to try to make an impact.
“Today it paid off and I came on and affected the game. It was a tight game when I came on, I just tried to calm it down.
“When I saw him [the goalkeeper] come out I had it in my head if it comes to me, ‘first touch and shoot’. I didn’t want it to come on my left foot and then I was just trying to get it on target, same with the first goal, create the turn and try to get it in the net.
“The crowd has been unbelievable, they have stuck with us. For me, these were my first goals at Old Trafford, a night I’ve been waiting a long time for. To go back to Bilbao is a special moment and we want to finish strongly.”
Mount has now scored three goals in his last two matches for Manchester United he will be hoping to continue his new-found form when they take on West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
