Once they switched sides, Athletic Bilbao’s panic became clear. The visiting team pushed all players forward with great energy. Jalo, who had been quiet in the first half, suddenly became the key player on the right side, sending four quick passes into the box one after another. Along with strong pressure in the middle, Manchester United were forced back for a while, showing their struggle to handle attacks during regular play.

The game changed in the 60th minute. Amorim quickly replaced Garnacho and Ugarte with Amad Diallo, Mason Mount, and Luke Shaw. The new substitutes soon broke the stalemate: Amad Diallo’s fast run down the left pushed the opponents back, while Athletic Bilbao began to tire. Yoro noticed the growing gaps in their midfield and defense, making repeated runs forward to help the attack. In the 71st minute, the defender won the ball back and passed it into open space, allowing Mount to spin and score a low shot to tie the game. This goal changed everything. Even though the visitors kept trying to attack from the right, Manchester United now controlled the pace. As Bilbao grew more tired, United scored three more goals in the final 20 minutes, ending with a 7-1 total win and a spot in the final.

Overall, Athletic Bilbao were hurt by missing key players and failing to adjust their tactics; their intense attacking pressure couldn’t last. While United still showed weaknesses in starting attacks from defense (as seen against Lyon) and made positioning mistakes, Amorim’s tactics are slowly improving. New winter signings like Dorgu are now helping the team attack the wings effectively. This plan—using speed from attackers and wing-backs to break through defenses—works better than last season’s approach against Tottenham.

But challenges remain before the final. Tottenham handle pressure much better than Athletic Bilbao, and United’s ability to take chances and defend strongly will still matter. When Amorim and Postecoglou face off tactically, how well the players perform could decide the outcome of their entire season.