“It will be fabulous, there is an immoderate passion for this club”, the Bilbao supporters ready to receive Manchester

“Complete !” The semi-final semifinals go to the Europa League, the 2nd European football cup, between the Athletic Club and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium (53,000 places) of Bilbao, flew in a few minutes. Only subscribers managed to have them, and again … “We are entitled to two places per games and on this meeting, it was super complicated to be able to have them. At the time of the sale, everyone logged in”says François Maton, who has an annual card. On the other hand, the Peñas, the official associations of TXuri Gorriak (white and red) supporters of Iparralde made white cabbage. No place issued by the club to the three groups of the North Basque Country. “The stadium would have had 100,000 places, I think it would have been so complicated”esteem Lander Mendiola, one of the people in charge of the Iparraldeko Rock based in Bayonne.

Athletic, current Fourth of La Ligathe Spanish championship, winner last year from the King’s Cup welcomed by more than 1 million people in the streets of Bilbao, arouses a keen popular craze through the Basque Country. “There is an immoderate passion for this club”enthuses Frédéric Crouzat, member as his sons of the Iparraldo Peña. He also decided, despite the “frustration” from not not have managed to get ticketsunlike the eighth finals (against AS Rome) and the quarter -final (against the Glasgow Rangers), to spend the day in the streets of the capital of Biscaye “To go see the atmosphere. We want to live the day, because a football match in Bilbao, all the people are in red and white, they are passionate, there is the atmosphere everywhere.” He will live him with his sons and Argentinian friends, from the Basque Country and football enthusiasts.

A passion that is explained by the identity unprecedented by Athletic, believes François Maton: “It is true that there is a Real enthusiasm, the club is super healthy, like Real Sociedad and all Basque clubs, with a lot of training, a lot of work on the social environment. These are clubs that are kids for kids and that people want to identify themselves (…) These are clubs that are hyper anchored on their territory and it generates a adhesion of everyone.

If this passion for TXuri Gorriak supporters largely explains the craze for this match, other factors are added. Starting with the opponent: “Manchester, historic club, European monster”, describes Frédéric. A team that also recalls very Good memories at the BasquesRemember Lander: “In 2012, Athletic had achieved the feat in the quarter-final by winning there (2-3) and also winning at home (2-1).” That year, Bilbao had reached the Europa League final, a competition that the club has never won. “It is not impossible, everything is doable, hopes Lander. We are counting on them, we believe, these two games, these are the two games of the season.”

With the end, the dream of Post a new final … at home ! This year, the title of the Europa League is playing in Bilbao on May 21, additional motivation for the club and its supporters. “Clearly, the semi-final side, with the final in San Mames, I think that has a hyper strong impact, believes François Maton, from Peña Iparraldo Lehoinak. It also follows last season when we have already made a final (won) in Seville (King Cup) where there had already been a huge craze.” Lander has already made his arrangements for him: “I have already laid off holidays to attend the final. Even if I am not at the stadium, I will be in Bilbao, around San Mames, with the friends of La Peña to support our team.” Same story on Frédéric’s side. But above all, we must erase the last obstacle: Manchester United, in difficulty in the England championship and which puts its end of the season on the European Cup.

Athletic Club Bilbao / Manchester United, semi-final go to the Europa League, Thursday, May 1 (9 p.m.). Mach Return on May 8 (9 p.m.)