Ruben Amorim expressed his delight for two-goal hero Mason Mount as Manchester United ensured their place in the Europa League final with a 4-1 triumph over Athletic Bilbao.

Mikel Jauregizar's superb first-half opener had Athletic dreaming of a comeback in the semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.

But Mount, whose injury issues at Old Trafford have been well-documented, scored twice on either side of Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund to clinch a 7-1 aggregate triumph and a date in the final at San Mames with Tottenham on May 21.

Mount consequently scored his first-ever brace in European competition and his first such goals since netting for Chelsea against Real Madrid in the Champions League in April 2022, while three of his five European goals have come in semi-finals.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Amorim said of Mount: "I'm so happy for him. He is such a player. He works really hard, he has quality.

"I really like Kobbie Mainoo, just 10 minutes [he played], but everything he did was really good, and sometimes you're on the bench and can change the game.

"When you see that kind of guy like Mason working hard every day, eating well, having ice baths, when you have this kind of player, you just want to help him. 

"He is perfect for this position as he can be a midfielder, but also runs like a winger, so I'm really happy for him."

United had toiled for 70 minutes before Mount sparked the revival.

Amorim, who became the first manager to reach a major European final in his first season in charge of an English club since Thomas Tuchel with Chelsea in the 2020-21 Champions League, conceded that his side are a work in progress after a tough season domestically.

"It's the least we can do for these fans, for the support they have given us in this tough season," he added.

"I'm stressed already because of the final. If we don't do it, it means nothing, but we're happy to be there, so let's see.

"I know I should be a better manager and the team should be better at this moment, but we're trying. We did quite well in Europe, but we are struggling in the Premier League."

Mount himself acknowledged this was the best night he has had in a Red Devils shirt.

"It was too long [waiting for a night like that]. I carried on going, working hard in training every day and tried to stay positive, and when I had an opportunity to try to make an impact," he said.

"Today it paid off, and I came on and affected the game. It was a tight game when I came on. I just tried to calm it down.

"For me, these were my first goals at Old Trafford, a night I've been waiting a long time for. To go back to Bilbao is a special moment, and we want to finish strongly."