Manchester United now have an easy decision to make in Europa League final after Athletic Bilbao win

A Union Jack was unfurled in the Stretford End on VE Day. Manchester United are now one victory away from salvaging their season.

Those flags were ubiquitous in Rotterdam for United's second European final in 1991. It was dusted off at an opportune time. United have a ninth European final back in Bilbao.

With United 1-0 down, the Stretford End still broke into a rendition of 'Cause United are going to Bilbao'. They will. The 7-1 aggregate scoreline does Athletic Bilbao a disservice but that is United in Europe this season.

The majority of this performance was more in keeping with United's domestic form than their European pedigree. For most of the night, United lived up to their manager's billing as the worst in living memory.

And still United summoned the gumption to not just avoid defeat but win emphatically. They put four goals past Athletic, aided by three substitutions.

Amad, somehow not starting, was scintillating following his game-changing introduction. Mason Mount sparked the comeback with a first Old Trafford goal and he rounded off the scoring with a strike so supreme that Ruben Amorim finally broke into a smile. The stars in Europe seem to be aligning for United.

In the Europa League, at least, United are just like watching Seville. Their love affair with the Europa League is similar to the seven-time winners who thwarted them in the 2020 semi-finals.

An all-English final against Tottenham in less than two weeks awaits, possibly the most consequential in the competition's history. Spurs, somehow below United in the Premier League table, have won four and drawn one against United under Ange Postecoglou. In what is bound to be Postecoglou's last match as Tottenham manager, it is a dicey dynamic.

Yet United are