TeamViewer Trending: Mason's big moments
Manchester United are going to Bilbao, for the 2025 UEFA Europa League final. But with around half an hour remaining of the semi-final second leg against Athletic Club, that seemed far from certain.
The visitors might have trailed by three goals after the first 90 minutes of the tie, but when the teams rendezvoused at Old Trafford, Mikel Jauregizar’s excellent first-half strike gave the Basques hope of a remarkable remontada.
Ruben Amorim’s Reds seemed spooked. To attack, and extend our lead? Or to preserve our advantage by defending? To stick or twist? Those in red appeared caught between those two options, locked in limbo, as our opponents ramped up the pressure at the start of the second half.
Calm and composure were needed and, on the biggest night of United’s season, one man delivered it, with his finest performance since joining the Reds in the summer of 2023. Mason Mount.
The midfielder-cum-forward has endured a highly frustrating spell at Old Trafford since joining from Chelsea – with a spate of injury setbacks preventing him from nailing down a regular starting spot. Due to those problems, Mount has made just 11 Premier League starts, missing 65 of the 110 first-team fixtures we’ve played in all competitions since his transfer.
But a smart opening goal at Brentford just four days before the big second leg against Athletic gave notice that the England international was gathering some momentum. And then, in that crucial return at Old Trafford, he scored twice in the final 20 minutes to liberate the Reds from the aforementioned limbo. Both goals came at Old Trafford, in front of the Stretford End, bonding the player to United’s fans in a new way.
Now, heading into the final throes of the season – and that big final in Bilbao – his United career is alive like never before…
90 in 20: United v Athletic Club Video
90 in 20: United v Athletic Club
90 IN 20 | Extended highlights as United reach a ninth major European final...
STAND-OUT MOMENT
Scoring twice in any match – never mind a European semi-final – is a noteworthy achievement. But seldom has a player scored two such beautiful efforts in a European semi-final. Choosing between Mount’s first and second goals against Athletic is a fool’s errand: both were distinctive, both approached perfection.
But let’s go with that vital first, which eased the tension inside Old Trafford and set up a blitz of goals that would ensure United ended the night with a comfortable 4-1 win.
Receiving the ball on his left foot from Leny Yoro, Mount Cruyffed it back onto his right to make space, and then curled a delicious shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net, giving Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala no chance. It was even reminiscent of Federico Macheda’s last-minute winner against Aston Villa in 2009 – one of Old Trafford’s most famous goals, also scored at the Stretford End – and Kobbie Mainoo’s fantastic strike against Liverpool last season.
What stood out most was the clarity of thinking and the surety of Mount’s touches, given the state of the tie and the nerves that were threatening to overwhelm both team and fans at that stage of the match. Mount’s intervention reminded everyone that here was a player good enough to make the difference for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final, with a defence-splitting pass for Kai Havertz’s winner. Good enough to start for England in the semi-final and final of the 2021 European Championship.
All that said, what about that second goal? To score with your ‘other’ foot from 45 yards out? That’s ridiculous, as the reaction of Mount’s team-mates and head coach indicated. When it comes to Mount’s stand-out moment, we’re sticking with the first, though, simply for its importance (and the ‘limbs’ behind the goal).
PERFORMANCE INSIGHT
Despite Mount’s struggles with injury during the last two years, it’s been very clear since very early in Ruben Amorim’s tenure that United’s new boss is a big fan. So even when Mason missed the first three months of 2025, there was confidence that, once those physical problems were overcome, the southerner might fit neatly into the Reds’ 3-4-2-1 set-up. That his time would come.
Mount has been described by pundits and analysts as an excellent example of a modern player: comfortable in a range of roles across the midfield and forward lines, with a deep understanding of different tactical systems, due to his experiences at Chelsea, Vitesse Arnhem, Derby County and with England.
Crucially, with Chelsea and the national team, he has experienced playing in a side that employs a back three. Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel, with whom Mount lifted that 2021 Champions League, both openly spoke of their admiration for Mount’s work on and off the ball, as well as the benefits of his infectious personality.
In 2020, Southgate gave a nice summation of what Mount can add to a team, saying: “He’s a top player. He can receive [the ball] under pressure, he’s intelligent with his movement... In a tactical game where it’s just as important defensively what the forwards do, to have a player like him who can do both sides [is vital]... I read a lot of things about Mason and I think he’s a very under-appreciated player – but not by us.”
Amorim seems to agree. Last year, during his first days in the job, the Portuguese raved: “Mason Mount… I have to tell you, I love that kid! You can look in his eyes [and see] that he wants this so bad. And this is the most important thing for me.”
Now, United’s fans are starting to understand why the 26-year-old is so popular with staff and team-mates alike…
Mount's worldie that made it 1-1 Video
Mount's worldie that made it 1-1
GOAL CLIP | From the flick to the finish, Mason Mount's equaliser at the Stretford End was absolutely superb...
MASON SAID
“It's been difficult. Obviously, since I've been here, I’ve had the injuries, the setbacks, but I always stayed positive and I knew something good was going to come, and I carried on going. I just tried to come on and affect the game [against Athletic Club]. It was a tight game when I came on, along with the other subs, so [I was] just trying to come on and calm the game down and have an impact… For me personally, obviously [these are] my first goals here at Old Trafford, so a special night. One I've been waiting for a long time.”
Everyone's talking about Mason's second Video
Everyone's talking about Mason's second
GOAL CLIP | Everyone at Old Trafford was beaming at the sight of Mason Mount's long-range finish to make it 4-1...
THE BOSS SAID
“When you see that kind of guy working hard every day, eating well, resting, ice bath... He does everything. When you have this kind of player, you just want to help them. The quality that he has... it's perfect for that position [as one of the no.10s]. He can be a midfielder, he can run like a winger, he can play with his back to the goal. I'm really happy for him.”
Who did it better? Video
Who did it better?
Compare the similar strikes by Mason Mount and Federico Macheda at the Stretford End...
DID YOU KNOW?
With his double against Athletic, Mason Mount became the first Red since David Beckham to score twice as a substitute in a European knockout match. Our former no.7 managed that in the famous 4-3 win over Real Madrid in 2003, though the Spaniards progressed 6-5 on aggregate. The game was Becks' second-to-last United match at Old Trafford before his summer departure to join Los Blancos.
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