Athletic Club’s Oihan Sancet suffers injury ahead of crucial Europa League clash with Man United | OneFootball

Manchester United could be set to receive a boost ahead of their crucial semi-final clash with Athletic Club next week in the Europa League after key star Oihan Sancet suffered an injury last night.

The Red Devils have endured an abysmal campaign under the combined stewardship of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim with United’s last hopes of salvaging success this season lying in Europe.

Winning the Europa League – with the final taking place at Athletic Club’s home ground, Estadio de San Mamés – would add another title to the glittering trophy cabinet at Old Trafford, having previously won the competition in 2017.

But, more crucially, it would grant automatic qualification into next season’s Champions League and the enormous financial benefits which come from playing in Europe’s elite competition, worth as much as £121 million to United.

The club’s financial situation is a fraught one with the acute pressure of the Premier League’s profits and sustainability rules (PSR) meaning every penny counts at Old Trafford this summer with Amorim’s squad in desperate need of a comprehensive overhaul.

To reach this final in Bilbao, however, United will first need to overcome the Basque side, Athletic, in the semi-final.

The other side of the draw sees English rival Tottenham Hotspur face off against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, who the Reds already beat in the group stage of the competition.

Athletic are currently fourth in La Liga with the best defensive record in the division. They will offer comfortably the toughest challenge United have faced in the Europa League this season, with the first-leg at the San Mamés set to be a cauldron of noise next week – the type the Reds have often wilted at in Europe in recent seasons.

However, Amorim’s side may set to benefit from an unfortunate development for the Spanish side after Sancet, 25, was forced off the field against Las Palmas in a 1-0 win yesterday.

The Spanish international is an attacking midfielder and is Athletic’s top scorer this season with 15 goals in La Liga. But he was substituted in the 18th minute, clutching his right leg on the bench after being withdrawn, suggesting a potential muscular injury.

A report reveals the 25-year-old will be assessed on Friday with Athletic sweating over the prospect of one of their star players being unavailable for United’s arrival in Bilbao next week.

But, as is often the case in sport, your competitor’s misfortune is a positive for you with the Red Devils likely to need every bit of good luck to emerge with victory from the semi-final clash against a much better performing team this season.

Feature image Alex Caparros via Getty Images

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