‘We Lose Our Mind’ – Ruben Amorim Fears Manchester United Collapse Against Athletic Club

Despite 3-0 Lead, Ruben Amorim Warns Red Devils Against Complacency in Europa League Semi-Final

It’s a strange paradox Manchester United find themselves in. On the one hand, they’re just one game away from reaching a European final. On the other, they are enduring one of their most catastrophic domestic seasons in living memory. Ruben Amorim, brought in to steady the ship, is all too aware of both realities—and he isn’t taking anything for granted.

Heading into the second leg of the Europa League semi-final, United hold a comfortable 3-0 advantage over Athletic Club, having produced one of their finest performances of the season in Bilbao just a week ago. But Ruben Amorim, who took the reins at Old Trafford during one of its darkest hours, has issued a stark warning to his players: don’t lose your heads.

“Sometimes during the game we are one team and then we lose our mind a little bit,”  Ruben Amorim confessed in his pre-match press conference. “Anything can happen.”

And when he says anything, he means it.

A Warning from Experience: “One Goal Can Change Everything”

Ruben Amorim isn’t simply playing the role of cautious optimist. His warning is rooted in cold reality. United’s form since his appointment has been, by his own admission, abysmal. The Red Devils are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League with just three matches remaining. Relegation may be mathematically off the table, but spiritually, the club is as far from its best as it’s ever been.

“We are the worst team in the Premier League since I arrived, in terms of results,” he admitted. “That’s my idea. And at the end of the season, we could be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.”

It’s a staggering statement, but one that sums up United’s surreal situation. Despite their dire domestic form, the club has somehow found consistency in Europe—at least so far. Yet Ruben Amorim’s concern is that one moment of chaos, one lapse in discipline, could unravel the hard-earned advantage.

“We have to understand one goal can change everything: the momentum of the game, a red card… you saw it just a week ago.”

Athletic Club Weak and Wounded—but Dangerous

Amorim’s anxiety is, on paper, difficult to justify. Athletic Club arrive at Old Trafford weakened and undermanned. Key players are missing: centre-back Dani Vivian is suspended, and the attacking trio of Nico Williams, Inaki Williams, and Oihan Sancet—who together form the Basque side’s creative core—will all be absent.

It should be a walk in the park. But football rarely sticks to the script.

United fans don’t need a history lesson to recall collapses from the jaws of victory. The club’s recent years have been littered with late-game heartbreak, comebacks gone wrong, and performances that unravel in moments.

For Ruben Amorim, the absences in Athletic’s lineup don’t guarantee success. If anything, they add pressure.

“We’re ready to suffer,” he said. “To go to the final, we’ll have to. We can’t think about what players they don’t have. We have to think about what we need to do.”

A Season to Forget, a Final to Remember?

United are in an imposing position / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages

Let’s not mince words—Manchester United have had an awful season. Ruben Amorim’s honesty about that point is refreshing, if somewhat brutal.

“Nothing is going to change this season. I still feel that this is the worst in the last 50 years.”

It’s an uncomfortable truth for supporters and players alike. The Premier League campaign has been a mess: injuries, disjointed performances, and an identity crisis that no managerial shuffle has fixed.

Yet here they are—potentially 90 minutes away from a European final. The Europa League, often dismissed as the Champions League’s little brother, now feels like a lifeline. Not just for silverware, but for salvation.

Qualifying for the Champions League via winning the Europa League would soften the blow of their Premier League performance. But Ruben Amorim is adamant—it wouldn’t erase it.

“Winning a title in Europe doesn’t make this a good season,” he said. “We’ll take the success, but we won’t fool ourselves.”

Keeping Their Heads: Mental Fragility Still a Concern

What Ruben Amorim fears most isn’t the opponent, but the mindset of his own team. United have been consistently inconsistent. Flashes of brilliance—like last week in Spain—are often followed by spells of chaos. Against a weakened Athletic side, the expectation is victory. But that expectation itself is dangerous.

“Sometimes we don’t manage pressure well,” he admitted. “That’s when we lose our mind. That’s what we can’t afford tomorrow.”

He’s not wrong. United’s red cards, miscommunications, and mental lapses have cost them dearly this season. Even in games where they dominated the ball, the goals haven’t come. And when things go wrong, they tend to spiral quickly.

Amorim has tried to instill a new identity since arriving, but even he admits it may take more time—and different players—to truly rebuild.

Fans Desperate for Silverware, But Not Fooled

In some ways, Ruben Amorim’s honesty mirrors the feelings of the United faithful. No one is under the illusion that a Europa League win masks the deeper problems. But in a season so defined by frustration, a European trophy would at least offer something tangible to cling to.

There’s also the hope that it could mark the beginning of something better. A reason to believe in Ruben Amorim’s project. A chance to attract higher-level talent. A moment of joy in a year dominated by darkness.

Still, the job isn’t done yet. And that’s what Ruben Amorim keeps coming back to.

“We are thinking about winning the game,” he stressed. “Not drawing. Not holding on. Winning.”

Final Word: Between Collapse and Redemption

Thursday night at Old Trafford won’t just be a football match—it’ll be a psychological test. Can Manchester United keep their heads and do what should be a straightforward job? Or will they once again prove that nothing at this club comes easily?

Ruben Amorim knows both outcomes are possible. In fact, he’s counting on the fight. He’s not asking for brilliance. Just composure.

Because for United, this is more than a semi-final. It’s a chance to show that amidst a season of mediocrity and madness, they still know how to win.