Athletic Bilbao vs. Manchester United: 6 Things We Learned in Europa League

This time, there was no glorious English comeback, and now, Manchester United's European nightmare is finally over.

Athletic Bilbao ran out deserved 2-1 winners over Manchester United on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League third-round tie. Combined with their 3-2 win last week at Old Trafford, Bilbao earned every bit of a 5-3 aggregate victory.

United had entered with some hope of turning around the deficit after fellow English clubs had done the same in European play. But Sir Alex Ferguson's men fell behind early and never had a chance to match the fightbacks of either Chelsea or Arsenal.

Wayne Rooney scored a beautiful consolation goal late in the game for United, but even that flattered the visitors, who never legitimately threatened Bilbao.

Now that they're out of Europe, the Red Devils will focus solely on the Premier League. Before they go, though, there's still plenty to learn from their European debacle.

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The Nightmare Is Finally Finished

It's been a bad year for United in Europe. Last fall, Ferguson's team fell to Swiss champs Basel in Switzerland and crashed out of the Champions League uncharacteristically early at the group stage.

There was some hope that United could redeem themselves in the Europa League after they eliminated Ajax in the last round, and Ferguson even insisted he wanted to win the competition. But after watching United's performance Thursday, it's hard to believe him.

Fergie's lineup for the second leg left the speed and attacking prowess of Chicharito and Danny Welbeck on the bench. Such a move suggested the Scot had his heart elsewhere when making out his team sheet.

His second-half moves confirmed that suspicion. Chris Smalling and Paul Pogba entered the match two minutes before Bilbao's killer second goal, and Danny Welbeck came on for Ryan Giggs soon after.

By that point, Ferguson was resting old and weary legs (Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick in addition to Giggs) while turning his attention fully to the league run-in.

There's nothing wrong with that. But neither is that to say United would have beaten Bilbao had Ferguson changed his tactics. After two legs of sweeping, attacking, attractive football from the Spaniards, that proposition feels doubtful at best.

This much is certain though: This clearly was not United's season in Europe.

Athletic Bilbao Have a Chance

Marcelo Bielsa's Athletic Bilbao is a team to watch this spring in the Europa League. With a little good fortune, they could feasibly go all the way.

Bilbao's style suits the competition. They play fast, flowing football that frustrates opponents and keeps them on the back foot. They attack, constantly. They show no fear, even against a legendary club like Manchester United.

And they're nearly unbeatable at home in European competition.

There really is a lot to like about this team.

Marcelo Bielsa Is a Mad Genius

It starts at the top. The man they call "El Loco" might just be a mad genius.

The crazy moniker is well-earned, but so is his reputation as an exciting, innovative manager. At times his style has led to revolt from within the ranks, but that doesn't seem likely with this group.

In truth, the major question about his tenure is how Bilbao could possibly be just the seventh-best team in La Liga.

With that said, consider this. Certain teams in England are currently looking for a new manager. If the high-ranking officials of those teams happened to watch either of Bilbao's stylish wins over Manchester United in the past week, they must have been impressed.

Yes, I'm looking at you, Chelsea.

Stars in the Ranks

Bielsa and Athletic Bilbao have some bona fide stars in the ranks.

Fernando Llorente's first-half goal was genius. Period. To hit a volley so perfectly from a 50-yard aerial pass is just plain ridiculous. That was a golazo in the truest sense of the word, and he's a big-time star in the making.

He's not the only one. Oscar De Marcos and Iker Muniaín terrorized United relentlessly over two legs. If they stay together, along with Llorente, they could form an attacking combination to rival Napoli's big three.

Even now, they were way too good for United.

United's Defensive Issues

As brilliant as Llorente's goal was, Rio Ferdinand let his keeper down horribly.

There seemed to be no danger when Bilbao played a long ball forward from their own half. And Ferdinand's lackadaisical attempt do defend suggested he never felt there was any danger.

Again, Llorente's goal was top-class, but it's just not acceptable for a central defender to allow a long ball to fall in his box without any challenge whatsoever.

In fairness, though, Bilbao attacked relentlessly, and even the best defenders can’t keep everything out. For United, defense wasn't the real problem…

Overwhelmed Midfield

The real problem for United was the midfield. Tom Cleverley simply wasn't good enough, and Park Ji-Sung is better-used as a substitute.

Bilbao ran all over United's defense all night and could have scored 10 goals. One big reason for that was an overwhelmed midfield.

It's a problem Ferguson will have to address this summer. Luring Paul Scholes out of retirement turned out to be a stroke of brilliance, but Scholes is 37.

United's midfield needs reinforcements.