Sevilla vs Man Utd LIVE: Result and reaction as Youssef En-Nesyri brace knocks United out of Europa League
Sevilla 3-0 Man Utd (5-2 agg): Sevilla inflict punished on Erik ten Hag’s woeful side to knock the out of Europe
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United were knocked out of the Europa League by a rampant Sevilla who showed once again why they have won this tournament a record six times.
United were nervous all night and an early mistake from David De Gea and Harry Maguire gave the hosts the lead after just eight minutes. Youssef En-Nesyri pressing high to win the ball and tap it past the goalkeeper.
Lucas Ocampos believed he had added a second just before the break but a close VAR call ruled his strike out for offside. Sevilla didn’t need long after the restart tp score though. A corner ball came to Loic Bade who shouldered an effort over the head of De Gea to give the hosts a firm grip on the match.
Things got worse for United’s goalkeeper when, late in the game, he stormed out of his box, miscontrolled the ball and gave En-Nesyri an open goal to secure the win and a spot in the semi-finals.
Relive the action as Sevilla host Manchester United in the Europa League quarter-finals:
Eriksen on importance on tonight’s clash
Christian Eriksen was on media duties this week with manager Erik ten Hag and gave his thoughts on playing in such a crucial match for Manchester United.
“Yeah, it’s going to be a very big game, I’m really looking forward to it.” he said, “It’s a nice pitch, a nice stadium and nice weather, so perfect.
“You want to play in big stadiums, with a lot of people – cheering or booing, or whatever, one or another. It will be nice, it’s definitely going to help the atmosphere and also the football.”
Pre-match thoughts from Erik ten Hag
Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag, spoke about how he uses motivation as a tool to get the best from his players and why it needs to be used ahead of big games such as tonight’s Europa League quarter-final.
“We have to use motivation as a tool and control it.” he told the media earlier in the week, “The timing of that is important. In big games especially, we have to know how to use it.
“We need to focus on the game and play the best game we can. Our organisation all over the pitch is quite good. We need to do better attacking.
“I am confident that we can score goals tomorrow.”
Sevilla vs Man Utd
David De Gea could be a key player for Manchester United tonight with Sevilla expected to be on the front foot as they look to enhance their already formidable Europa League reputation.
The Spanish keeper has played more minutes (990) than anyone else in this season’s competition, narrowly ahead of former United defender Chris Smalling (945).
De Gea has kept five clean sheets in his last eight matches for the club.
Sevilla vs Man Utd team changes
José Luis Mendilibar makes three changes to the Sevilla line-up that started the last game. Jesus Navas and Loic Bade slot into defence in place of Gonzalo Montiel and Tanguy Nianzou while Oliver Torres drops out for Youssef En-Nesyri.
Erik ten Hag meanwhile makes four changes to the Man Utd line-up. Injuries have forced Tyrell Malacia, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez out of the back line so Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot and called in to substitute.
Elsewhere Christian Eriksen returns in place of Bruno Fernandes.
Sevilla vs Man Utd line-ups
Sevilla XI: Bounou; Navas, Bade, Marcao, Acuna; Fernando, Gudelj; Ocampos, Rakitic, Lamela; En-Nesyri
Man Utd XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Sabitzer, Sancho; Martial
Christian Eriksen is Manchester United’s secret weapon in Sevilla showdown
If Manchester United find themselves in the position of needing to respond to a dramatic setback, Christian Eriksen feels an apt figure to turn to.
In the last two years, he has diced with tragedy but may end the season with the triumph of a treble. In the last three months, there was the fear his season might be over after a shocking challenge by Andy Carroll. But he has a propensity to stage comebacks, often sooner than anticipated. They can go better than most expect.
It is a habit that could come in handy for United in Seville. They were 2-0 up and cruising when Eriksen entered the fray at Old Trafford last week. Half an hour later, they had lost Lisandro Martinez for the season – Raphael Varane, who had gone off earlier, was then ruled out for several weeks – and conceded two goals which to add to the sense that events had taken on a life of their own, were both own goals.
It might not quite make Sevilla, the six-time champions, favourites against a depleted United team at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan but a tie is suddenly in the balance.
Christian Eriksen is Manchester United’s secret weapon in Sevilla showdown
With Bruno Fernandes suspended there is a crucial job for the fit-again Eriksen at the heart of United’s midfield in Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final second leg
‘It’s 50-50’ says Mendilibar
Sevilla’s coach, José Luis Mendilibar, cannot pick which way this match and quarter-final tie will go and believes that the home side’s fans will play a big part in deciding the result tonight.
“It’s 50-50.” he said, “It will be very complicated and even after drawing 2-2 away we are not ahead in the tie.
“The fans will help, but on the pitch it is 11 against 11. This United team have experience on their side.”
Sevilla vs Man Utd
Sevilla are unbeaten in all four previous encounters between the sides.
The first – and only prior meeting at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán between the pair – was a 0-0 draw in the Champions League round of 16 in 2017/18.
Can Man Utd break that cycle and earn a spot in the final four tonight?
Ten Hag on United’s injured players
As we wait for the team news to drop here’s Erik ten Hag speaking about the possibility of Tyrell Malacia, Marcus Rashford, Marcel Sabitzer and Luke Shaw possibly playing a role this evening.
All four were nursing injuires but have been included in the matchday squad.
“They are available because that’s why they’re on the airplane,” Ten Hag told reporters in Seville yesterday. “I will take my decisions tomorrow, today we trained and we will see what the reaction is and then tomorrow we will take a decision.
“You always want to keep players fit, which is the main objective, besides of course the main objective: win the game.”
Marcus Rashford included in Manchester United squad for Sevilla second leg
Marcus Rashford has travelled with Manchester United to Spain after training on the eve of the crunch Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla.
The 25-year-old pulled up holding his groin against Everton 11 days ago, with the club announcing he was expected to be out for a “few games”.
Rashford missed last week’s 2-2 first-leg draw with Sevilla and Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win against Nottingham Forest, but United appear to have received a major fitness boost.
The England forward trained with his team-mates at Carrington on Wednesday morning and the club later confirmed he is part of the 21-man group making the trip to Spain.
Marcus Rashford included in Manchester United squad for Sevilla second leg
Rashford has missed the club’s last two matches through injury.
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