Sevilla 3-0 Man Utd: The European season for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag is over after Thursday. Sevilla settled at home with The Mancunians, who could not make a fist against the much fiercer four-time winner of the Europa League.
Ten Hag can forget European prize after error festival in Seville
After last week’s draw at Old Trafford, Ten Hag had Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst start on the bench. Marcus Rashford was also in the dug-out in the atmospheric Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The top scorer of The Mancunians appeared to have recovered from a muscle injury in time to at least start as a reserve. Anthony Martial occupied the striker position with the English, with Bruno Fernandes missing due to a suspension.
Spanish predominance
Martial barely came into play for United, who had a lot of trouble with the fierce game of Sevilla. The pressure from the Andalusian side resulted in a goal after just nine minutes. Harry Maguire was played by David de Gea on the edge of the penalty area while three Sevilla players dived at the captain. Maguire lost the ball, after which Youssef En Nesyri tapped in the 1-0.
Sevilla, with Nemanja Gudelj in the base and Karim Rekik on the bench, kept control and was twice close to a second goal before the break via ex-Ajacied Lucas Ocampos. The Argentinian first encountered De Gea and shortly before the break his beautiful goal was rejected due to offside by Marcos Acuña. United, on the other hand, could rarely create any danger for Yassine Bounou’s goal.
New blow
Ten Hag decided to bring Rashford and Luke Shaw in line immediately after the break and hoped for a positive turn in the game. But already two minutes after the break it was 2-0 for Sevilla. From a corner by Ivan Rakitic, Loïc Baldé headed over De Gea. A few minutes later, Gudelj and Ocampos did everything they could to get the ball over the goal line at a scrimmage after a new corner from Rakitic, but United cleared the ball with the necessary art and flying.
With Weghorst in front of the injured Martial, United went looking for the connecting goal. Sevilla, however, simply held their ground and was even closer to a third goal through lunges. And it also fell shortly before time after a blunder by De Gea. The Spanish goalkeeper came far from his goal after a long kick from the half of Seville. And couldn’t get the ball under control. And Nesyri was alert, just like in the opening phase, and scored the 3-0. This is how United’s European adventure ended in a painful way. Ten Hag can now focus with his battered formation on the semi-final of the FA Cup: Sunday against Brighton & Hove Albion.
