Man United accepted a difficult 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final.
Here are 5 highlights after the crazy competition at Old Trafford…
Man United must buy out Marcel Sabitzer
Erik ten Hag decided to start Marcel Sabitzer for this match, against Fred, and was in no hurry to use Christian Eriksen. Sabitzer paid back the Dutch strategist’s faith with a brace.
Those 2 goals showed the ability to move flexibly, wisely as well as the excellent finishing ability of the Austrian player. Sabitzer has only been on loan from Bayern Munich, but so far he has established himself as the signing the Reds must prioritize when the summer transfer window opens.
Nightmare of owning
Sevilla equalized at the end of the game, thanks to two home goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire both own.
At the first own goal, Malacia subjectively let the ball reach Jesus Navas’ feet and then the former Man City star ended up stretching the ball to touch the Red Devil defender, leaving David de Gea helpless. Malacia deserves a lot of criticism after a disastrous mistake
Sevilla then equalized in stoppage time after Youssef En-Nesyri bounced off a high header to hit Harry Maguire and go straight into the net.
No Rashford, no problem
This is Man United ‘s first game since Marcus Rashford got injured at the weekend. And they coped well even without the team’s main goalscorer.
Ten Hag was right to deploy Sabitzer in a freelance role. Anthony Martial shows that he is very suitable for the tactics that the former Ajax coach wants to operate. It was the French striker who played an assisting role in Sabitzer’s second goal and linked very well with his teammates. Jadon Sancho and Antony were both big threats, although they lacked in the second half.
The Red Devil’s Black Luck
Man United must receive too much loss in this match. Raphael Varane had to leave the field in the first half and was replaced by Harry Maguire. In the second half, it was Lisandro Martinez’s turn to be injured and was picked up by two Sevilla players and then entered the tunnel on a stretcher.
The injury of the two central defenders is what makes Ten Hag a headache, when the season has come to a decisive point. Particularly for the second leg in Spain, Man United also lost conductor Bruno Fernandes because of a penalty card.
Ten Hag’s Mistake
Ten Hag is considered a master of substitutions and improvisation in matches. But before Sevilla, the Dutch strategist made bad decisions that cost Man United.
Seemingly comfortable with a 2-0 lead, Ten Hag brought on a slumping Anthony Elanga, struggling Wout Weghorst and Christian Eriksen just back from a long-term injury. The Reds’ speed on counter-attacks was gone and that allowed Sevilla to confidently organize their sieges.
Legendary Paul Scholes has reason to declare: “I don’t think Sir Alex Ferguson will allow us to be so complacent. When you’re in a quarter-final like this, it’s time to decide everything. You can’t do that in a European league or against a club like Sevilla.”