BREAKING NEWS:‼️ Straight outta Old Trafford, Bilbao’s boss calls out the refs and Manchester United for being totally biased. He raged, “Once again, Manchester United shows their true colors—pure favoritism! How was that even a penalty? And the red card? That’s an insult to the sport! This was robbery in broad daylight, no sugar-coating it. If this is UEFA’s idea of fair play, we want no part of it. This game needs to be replayed or forget the second leg—justice first. We won’t play the role of pawns in a rigged show. #ManUtd #MUFC #GGMU #RedDevils #UnitedWeStand #OldTrafford #TenHagBall #AmorimBall #fabrizoromano Think that penalty and red card were fair??🙀😱🙀

Tensions boiled over at Old Trafford after Athletic Bilbao suffered a crushing 0-3 defeat to Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash. Emotions ran high as Bilbao’s head coach, Ernesto Valverde, took center stage with a searing critique of both the referees and United’s conduct on the pitch. He didn’t hold back, leveling serious accusations of bias and injustice that, in his view, tilted the match in favor of the English side.

 

Valverde zeroed in on two pivotal moments that defined the match—an awarded penalty to Manchester United and the controversial red card shown to Bilbao’s Daniel Vivian. The penalty stemmed from a foul on Rasmus Hojlund, but Valverde questioned whether the contact truly warranted such a harsh call. What stung even more was Vivian’s dismissal, which handed United a golden opportunity they seized with clinical precision, as Bruno Fernandes slotted the penalty home.

 

The coach didn’t mince words in his post-match commentary, lashing out with raw emotion. He accused Manchester United of thriving under biased officiating, calling the penalty decision and red card “a disgrace to football.” According to Valverde, the game was stolen in plain sight, and he went as far as to brand the whole spectacle a case of “daylight robbery,” pointing fingers not just at the club but also at UEFA for what he sees as systemic favoritism.

 

In a bold and somewhat ominous tone, Valverde hinted at possible future consequences, suggesting that if refereeing standards don’t improve, clubs like Bilbao might have to rethink their commitment to European competitions. It was a statement loaded with frustration, hinting at a broader disillusionment with the governing bodies overseeing the sport.

 

Still, despite his fiery critique, Valverde didn’t shy away from introspection. He admitted that his players struggled to regain composure after conceding the first goal and losing Vivian to the red card. The shift in momentum was too much for them to contain, and he acknowledged that they allowed the pressure to unravel their game plan.

 

Looking ahead, the Bilbao coach turned his attention to the return leg, insisting the battle isn’t over yet. He called on his squad to dig deep and find the grit needed to mount a comeback. Valverde’s message was clear: the second leg is their shot at redemption, and they can’t afford to let frustration cloud their focus.

 

The match has lit a firestorm among fans and analysts alike, many of whom are locked in heated debates over the fairness of the calls made. Was it a justified penalty? Did Vivian truly deserve a red card? Opinions are sharply divided, and the controversy has only added fuel to what’s shaping up to be an explosive second encounter.

 

Now, as both sides prepare for round two, all eyes will be on how they respond to the fallout. Manchester United will look to cement their advantage, while Bilbao, bruised but not broken, must find a way to channel their anger into a performance that could turn the tide in  their favor.