Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that his side will need to improve on poor European performances if they are to beat Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
The Red Devils have been inconsistent on the continent this season, and face the San Mames side in the Europa League last 16.
Ferguson wants his team to show their worth, and is expected a difficult game against Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
“It’s a very difficult tie,” he admitted in a press conference, covered by The Guardian.
“From what we’ve seen, Bilbao are a very progressive team in Spain at the moment and it’s going to be a difficult game for us. It’s a game in which we need to waken up, there’s no question about that.
“Some of our European form this season has been disappointing but it’s an opportunity to progress and we have to take that opportunity. But it will need a very good performance.
“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.
“But we made mistakes in the group stage too, so it’s our own fault. But we’ll play a strong side against Bilbao and hopefully that makes a difference,” he concluded.
By Gareth McKnight
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