As their D-day in Bilbao approaches, RUBEN AMORIM urged his team to keep the Premier League in mind.

However, as Manchester United’s domestic campaign continues to deteriorate, that is all everyone associated with the team wants to do right now.

They lost badly here, suffering their ninth home loss of the year and their 17th overall.

They haven’t suffered this many losses since they were demoted from the top flight 51 years ago.

They can consider themselves fortunate that the lowest three have been so far away from it, but at least that won’t happen this season.

If not, Ruben Amorim’s team, who have yet to reach the 40-point milestone, would have had a very awkward season finale.

It could easily become worse with games against Aston Villa and Chelsea, who are vying for the title, still to come.

Now, there is a very real chance of placing 17th, which is only one spot above the drop zone.

And to think that if they defeat fellow struggling team Tottenham in Spain on May 21, they might still qualify for the Champions League themselves.

Graham Potter’s team achieved a rare away victory and overtook their rivals in the standings with to goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.

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For United supporters, who have seen this film numerous times in the Premier League this season, it was an agonizingly familiar tale.

Amorim made six substitutions and hoped there wouldn’t be any injuries, but that didn’t work either because Leny Yoro, a crucial defender, walked out early in the second half.

United had already fallen behind by that point. Bruno Fernandes, the captain, had fired a couple of shots over the bar to start them out in a promising manner.

Amad looked active enough when he returned to the starting lineup, grabbed the ball out of the sky, cut in, and had Alphonse Areola stop his attempt.

But the visitors took the lead when Mohammed Kudus, a former United defender, received a pass from Aaron Wan Bissaka and headed home a low cross from the left.

Even though the ball deflected off teenage defender Harry Amass on its way in, Soucek will undoubtedly claim it for his deft backheeling of the ball.

United is seriously hurting itself as they have already given up the first goal in 22 of their 36 Premier League games this season.

Before the half, they had a chance to tie the score when Manuel Ugarte chipped a deft pass forward, but Rasmus Hojlund was unable to control it, and the opportunity was lost.

Following the interval, Kudus again escaped down the left after some hilarious United defense.

His cross this time reached James Ward Prowse, who shot directly at Altay Bayindir, the deputy keeper.

With just ten days left before the final, Amorim had cautioned before the game about the significance of keeping his players healthy.

The last thing he wanted to see was Leny Yoro, who has played a crucial role in their Europa League campaign, clutching his foot in apparent pain.

The Red Devils will be very concerned about the 19-year-old French defender who left the game with his shirt pulled over his head and shaking his head.

Despite missing his debut until December due to a foot ailment sustained during the preseason, he has gained popularity in recent months.

Luke Shaw was also sent off, forcing United to rearrange their defense. Just before the hour, the visitors doubled their lead, leaving United completely exposed.

Kudus saw his shot stopped, but it dropped into Wan Bissaka’s path. Ugarte was robbed close to the halfway line, but he unforgivably made no attempt to regain it.

Jarrod Bowen scored a straightforward tap-in after the former United player squared the ball, thereby ending the home team’s chances of winning.

Amad rolled a pass to Hojlund during a breakaway, but Areola was there to quickly close him down.

Sub Harry Maguire then missed the post with a free header from the subsequent corner, and Areola stopped another one.

When a free kick from Fernandes beautifully fell for Hojlund in the area, the visitors denied him once more, but it was obvious that their day was not going to be bright.

However, how many times this season have we stated that? Too often.