Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa feels it is unrealistic to expect his team to perform like they did at Old Trafford every week.

Athletic earned huge amounts of praise for their display in last week's Europa League last-16 first-leg encounter with Manchester United.

Most observers felt United were lucky to escape with just a 3-2 defeat that leaves them with an outside chance of turning the tie around tomorrow evening.

Yet Bielsa's team followed it by losing a crucial La Liga encounter with Osasuna, that leaves them in seventh place, an enormous 33 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.

"The difference in points and finance is there for everyone to see,'' said the former Chile and Argentina coach.

"But I also believe that on one night or in one match a team like Athletic can get very close to the level of opponents such as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United.

"However, to maintain that throughout an entire league season is extremely difficult.''

Bielsa's counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson also used the word 'difficult' at his pre-match press conference.

"It's a difficult tie for us,'' said Ferguson.

"Bilbao have a tremendous advantage now, so it's a challenge - but not one that is beyond us.

"Our record away from home in Europe helps us. We have done really well the last few years away from home but it's going to need a good performance.''

Ferguson believes Manchester United's famed refusal to give in is the major reason why they are currently on top of the Premier League.

Turfed out of the Champions League by a Basle side that conceded seven to Bayern Munich last night, beaten 6-1 at home by Manchester City and on the brink of a second early European exit in Bilbao tomorrow night, in isolation those moments point towards a disastrous campaign.

Yet United's current status is that of leaders and favourites to retain their domestic title, even though skipper Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher have been absent since December and injuries seem to have blighted them at every turn.

"We have done really well to hang in there,'' said Ferguson.

"That is more or less what we have done no matter what the team has been.

"For instance (tomorrow night), with (Phil) Jones and (Chris) Smalling not available that's a door slamming in the face again.

"But we keep carrying on and it does point to a resilience in the team that is really admirable.

"They have done exceptionally well. It's an achievement in the sense of they're still banging in there in the league.

"Yes, there was the disappointment in the Champions League but we still can win this game tomorrow and I think the players believe that.''

Match

man utd 3-0 athletico bilbao

aboyaji: man utd 3-0 athletico bilbao

Na hand u wan take push 3 goals enter?

Bilbao! oh yes you can do it.

^^^ better wake up frm ur fatansy dream

aboyaji: man utd 3-0 athletico bilbao

My heart says YES but my brain says HELL NO!!!

;DOh.
Definitely we can turn it around...just hoof the balls into the box, typical route-one, EPL fashion; bombard them with crosses, bully 'em aerially and watch them self destruct like Napoli at the Bridge last night. Oh yes, we can!

RuuDie: ;DOh.
Definitely we can turn it around...just hoof the balls into the box, typical route-one, EPL fashion; bombard them with crosses, bully 'em aerially and watch them self destruct like Napoli at the Bridge last night. Oh yes, we can!

When did Chelsea style become a standard for Man U to learn from? Laughing!!

2day we r goin 2 bury bilbao alive by 3-1

This is a tricky match; anything can happen

RuuDie: ;DOh.
Definitely we can turn it around...just hoof the balls into the box, typical route-one, EPL fashion; bombard them with crosses, bully 'em aerially and watch them self destruct like Napoli at the Bridge last night. Oh yes, we can!

lol...Man Utd learning from Chelsea now eh?

if to say na chelsea dey go play this game now, i for say, hope dey but man u. is howard webb going to officiate the game? if howard webb is not playing, i have my fears.

game on

mukina2: game on

happen ?

see as bilbao throw away that chance

fredoooooo:

happen ?

my al jazeera dey on strike. i don beg am to behave before my yaya's match starts

Na wa o

e don happen

bilbao scores!

Yebariba swagga swagga

gooal bilbao

Useless and inferior English league being exposed by classical and fantastic Spanish league. ATH 1 MANU 0

mukina2:
my al jazeera dey on strike. i don beg am to behave before my yaya's match starts

aljazeera better behave or esle i send boko people to them , are you going to watch yaya with me or still at honey moon ?

Llorente scores! The striker watches a long cross land on his right boot and lashes it into the net, Van Persie-like.

the match will be fire

guys check out mikeadenuga.com

karpentar: Useless and inferior English league being exposed by classical and fantastic Spanish league. ATH 1 MANU 0

and tomorrow some deluded epl fans will be calling on messi to move to england, the superior league according to them, to prove he is the best.

The world is shaking men

If manu loses today Alex Ferguson must accept full responsibility. He should not have rested Howard Webb for such an important game.

karpentar: If manu loses today Alex Ferguson must accept full responsibility. He should not have rested Howard Webb for such an important game.

emmke: and tomorrow some deluded epl fans will be calling on messi to move to england, the superior league according to them, to prove he is the best.

I disagree. Manchester City and the traditional top four of United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all in one form of transition or another that affects all teams. Give it another couple of seasons and you will find four EPL teams in the last 8 UCL places as has been. The EPL remains the most competitive. They have only suffered recently from aging squads and player power. With all due respect Bilbao and United are not to be found on the same pitch. Na condition.

karpentar: If manu loses today Alex Ferguson must accept full responsibility. He should not have rested Howard Webb for such an important game.

karpentar: If manu loses today Alex Ferguson must accept full responsibility. He should not have rested Howard Webb for such an important game.

laff wan tear my stomach o