Intro:

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident his side can overturn a 3-2 defecit at the hands of Athletic Bilbao when the English champions play the second leg of their last 16 Europa League match in Spain on Thursday.

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SOUNDBITE: (English) Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager:

Manchester United have it all to do to reach the last eight of the Europa League.

The Red Devils suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the first leg, with Wayne Rooney scoring late on to give United hope.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Bilbao's performance was no surprise.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager:

"They're doing very very well. That was an outstanding performance by them, not just in their performance but in their energy. It was unbelievable. The highest stats of any team that's played at
Old Trafford in the last ten years in terms of distance run. And that's credit not just the energy, but to the desire in the team to do well."

Goalkeeper David De Gea's many first leg saves kept United in the tie, and Ferguson says progression is possible.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Javier Hernandez, Manchester United striker:

"It's a challenge but it's not one beyond us. With our record away from home in Europe, it helps us.

We have done very well in the last few years away from home. So hopefully that will be an advantage for us, but it's going to need a good performance."

Manchester United have a record of comebacks - most recently Javier Hernandez headed in an equalizer at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea had led United 3-0.

The Mexican says this can inspire the team against Bilbao.

"All the time in all the history of United, in all the competitions that we play we want to get through, we want to keep fighting. Like in the Premier League, right now we are top and tomorrow is a big opportunity for us. It's going to be a challenge but we need to keep the faith to try to win tomorrow.

We want to work very hard to try to do it."

Manchester United trailing in Europe? Thursday's match promises to be anything but boring.