Thoughts on Bilbao

United hit the Europa League trail tonight when they entertain Athletico Bilbao.

My feelings on this 'substitute` European adventure have been expressed already, but, suffice to say, Sir Alex Ferguson has a determination to win it and thereby completing a full set of European club honours.

The gaffer though has a few reservations about the tie tonight and beforehand has praised the Spanish side, remarking,

"It`s a very difficult tie. From what we`ve seen, they`re a very progressive team in Spain at the moment."

"It`s a game in which we need to wake up. Some of our European form this season has been disappointing. This is a chance to progress and we must take it. But it will need a very good performance."

Sir Alex then goes on to give a hint that although a rotation policy should be embraced there is a danger that over-rotation may have had an adverse effect with Sir Alex continuing,

"I don`t know if we`re making too many changes in these games."

"Certainly in the second leg against Ajax we did that and in the Champions League group stage we made some changes."

So, are we to assume that there will be a few changes but not wholesale changes tonight?

Lastly, there`s a suspicion that our Champions League failure still hurts the proud Scotsman who had ideas of winning the Champions League again with Sir Alex, once again, harking back to that night in Switzerland, finishing with,

"But we made mistakes in the group stage, so it`s our own fault. The Basel game will always be remembered for the carelessness of our performance."

My thoughts, let`s just concentrate on beating our noisy-neighbours to that title rather than chasing this second-rate trophy!



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