Manchester United’s Europa League campaign came to an end with a 3-0 defeat to Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, giving the Spanish team a 5-2 aggregate victory. This humiliating loss is one of several that have defined Erik ten Hag’s first season as United manager, with the club now pinning their hopes on Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.
United’s European hopes crushed after their 3-0 defeat against Sevilla
Manchester United’s Europa League campaign came to an end as they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, making it a 5-2 aggregate victory for the Spanish side. This demoralising defeat is one of several that have characterised Erik ten Hag’s debut season as the United manager, as they now pin their hopes on the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton on Sunday.
United’s European aspirations were shattered after they failed to hold a two-goal lead until the 80th minute of the first leg, drawing the game 2-2 due to two own goals. However, the second leg in Spain was characterised by a woeful performance from United, who conceded an early goal from Harry Maguire’s error that gave Youssef En-Nesyri Sevilla’s opener in the seventh minute.
United played poorly, failing to create enough chances and allowing Sevilla to dominate the game. The situation deteriorated further when Loic Bade’s header bounced in off the crossbar and David De Gea’s miscalculation handed En-Nesyri his second goal. United’s response was chaotic, and the loss of Anthony Martial to injury further hampered their chances of a comeback.
With Sevilla’s overwhelming victory, United is eliminated from Europe for the sixth consecutive season. It was the latest in a string of demoralising defeats that have come to characterise Erik ten Hag’s first season, making it the worst possible preparation for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley, where United’s last chance of collecting silverware now rests.
Ten Hag: “We lost the battles”
After the game, Ten Hag admitted that his side made mistakes and that they were not composed or calm. United lost battles, made bad decisions, and had less passion and desire than Sevilla. Former Manchester United forward Terry Gibson also criticised the team, stating that there were no excuses for the way they performed and that they were out-fought by Sevilla.
This latest setback is a new low for United, who have already suffered an ongoing series of devastating defeats during Ten Hag’s inaugural season. Despite this, they must now turn their attention to the FA Cup semi finals, where they will face Brighton.
