Bruno Fernandes has insisted he will only relax when he is dead, in response to advice from his former manager, Ruben Amorim, who had urged the Manchester United captain to ease off and conserve energy.

The Portugal international produced another scintillating display on Thursday evening, scoring twice as Manchester United cruised to a 3–0 away victory over Athletic Bilbao, putting them in a commanding position ahead of the second leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Fernandes' relentless form continues to underline his importance to the side, with the midfielder now contributing to 37 goals across all competitions this season. For many United fans, imagining their side without his presence is a bleak thought.

Since his £68 million move from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, Fernandes has rarely missed a match, owing to his exceptional fitness levels. Speaking to TNT Sports following the victory in Spain, the 29-year-old revealed how Amorim and the club’s medical team have advised him to rest more – advice he clearly has no intention of following.

“To be honest, I feel the pressure – every penalty,” said Fernandes. “But that’s the beauty of football. It’s something we have to embrace.

“When I retire, the pressure will disappear, and then I’ll be much more relaxed. That’s what I always tell the manager and the physio when they tell me to rest – I say, ‘No, when I die I’ll have plenty of time to lie down and rest.’”

Fernandes’ first goal came from the penalty spot following a controversial VAR decision. The spot-kick was awarded after Dani Vivian was adjudged to have pulled back Rasmus Højlund, with the Bilbao defender subsequently shown a red card. However, the Spanish side protested vehemently, claiming Alejandro Garnacho had handled the ball in the build-up.

A disappointed Iñaki Williams later said: “The play before the penalty comes from a handball by Garnacho, which the referee didn’t see. It was a struggle between Vivian and him. At the slightest contact, he went down. It’s unfortunate the referee gave it.”

Nevertheless, United were worthy of their win. Casemiro opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, heading home after excellent wing play from Harry Maguire, before Fernandes doubled the lead from the spot and added his second before the break.

United are now eyeing their first Europa League final since 2021, with Champions League qualification also on the line. They are widely expected to face Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English final, following Spurs’ 3–1 first-leg victory over Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. However, the latter have a formidable home record in Europe and could still spring a surprise.

With a 3–0 lead going into the return leg at Old Trafford, Amorim’s men appear to have one foot in the final. Still, the Portuguese boss was quick to temper expectations.

“No one expected this scoreline, but it’s not over,” Amorim cautioned. “The same result could happen at Old Trafford, and we must be ready.

“There are no away goals anymore, so anything can change. That’s the message I’ve given the players. They should focus more on the first 20 minutes than the rest of the match. We struggled a lot at the start, but the goal and red card changed everything.”

Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde was left incensed by Norwegian referee Espen Eskås’ decision to dismiss Dani Vivian and award the penalty converted by Fernandes – especially given the alleged handball by Garnacho moments earlier.

“It was an excessive punishment – not only were we 2–0 down, but we were left with ten men,” said Valverde. “We appealed for a handball by Garnacho, but ultimately it’s the referee’s job to officiate the game.”