Sevilla manager aims dig at Man Utd after Europa League beating

Sevilla manager Jose Luis Mendilibar aimed a dig at Manchester United after last night’s Europa League thrashing by saying he was surprised by just how straightforward the win was for his side. 

 A frantic finale at Old Trafford last week breathed new life into a clash that looked all but done after Sabitzer had fired United into a two-goal lead. 

The concession of two avoidable goals, allied to the injuries sustained by Lisandro Martinez and Varane, rendered last night’s second leg more difficult than it needed to be and United melted away amid the heat generated by a raucous Sanchez Pijuan stadium. 

 David de Gea was at fault for all three of Sevilla’s goals, but nobody in a United shirt emerged with any semblance of credit after the worst performance of Erik ten Hag’s reign to date. 

Mendilibar, who has overseen a superb transformation since his recent appointment, was delighted with the intensity and intent his team displayed but was taken aback by the lack of fight on show from a United side that were able to field so many experienced players, despite their injuries.  

The Sevilla coach said: ‘This is a team that’s used to greater things. ‘We came from an awkward situation in Manchester, where we drew 2-2 without doing things right, and people believed that we could do it. In the end we did it.

‘It’s surprising for us to win a game against Manchester United without struggling and with such forcefulness, it’s not easy.’ 

 

Ten Hag, meanwhile, could only offer an apology to the supporters who had witnessed a scarcely comprehensible capitulation that represented a poor preparation ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against in-form Brighton at Wembley. 

 ‘We have to do better, that’s the demand,’ Ten Hag told BT Sport after United’s defat to Sevilla. ‘We were not composed, not calm. We didn’t beat the press, when you do there are so many spaces behind, and it was obvious at the start how to do it. 

‘We lost the battles, they had more passion, more desire, more willingness, that’s difficult to win games.

 ‘We can’t run away from it. On Sunday we have another opportunity and have to step up and show more character and personality.’