Sevilla’s festivities continued into a balmy night in Andalusia, but the truth is that Manchester United’s demise in the Europa League began on a wet evening at Old Trafford a week earlier.
Those two late own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire changed the face of this quarter-final tie and United’s capitulation continued at the rampant Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Two after 84 minutes in Manchester, they arrived in Spain at all levels and were 3-2 down within seven minutes. By the time Loic Bade made it 4-2 early in the second half, United looked defeated and their humiliation was complete when David de Gea gave Youssef En-Nesyri a second goal of the night in the 80th minute.
Thanks to Seville. Currently the 13th best team in La Liga, this was the third time they have knocked United out of Europe in the last five years.
But it cannot be denied that Erik ten Hag’s team has done this to itself. This was as bad as United have been under the Dutchman, especially since the turn of the year. They were everywhere sometimes.
Harry Maguire, whose unfortunate own goal at Old Trafford tied the score, will come under scrutiny again, but De Gea was equally guilty of both En-Nesyri’s chaotic goals.
However, Maguire’s discomfort could not be hidden. The reality is that he and Victor Lindelof are a pale imitation of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane whose first-leg injuries also contributed to United leaving Europe for another year.
It really didn’t have to be that way were it not for that belated capitulation at Old Trafford last week. The Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan was always going to be a melting pot of emotions, but all the more so as Sevilla fans regained hope of reaching the semi-finals. The Spaniards have won this trophy six times in the last 17 years, so it’s not a game they’ll end without a fight.
Nunca te rindas – never give up – was featured on two huge banners unfurled as the teams exited the tunnel and it never felt more appropriate than with Sevilla and the Europa League.
Ten Hag was able to bench Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw from injury, if only until half time when this tie unraveled before his very eyes.
Marcel Sabitzer, the unlikely scorer of both United’s goals in the first leg, was also declared fit after withdrawing from the warm-up at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The Austrian was treated again when he was sent off against a set of chairs in the opening sessions last night, but it wasn’t for the dork who sent United off the floor after seven minutes.
Who was to blame? Maguire or David de Gea? The truth is that both players were at fault and so was United’s insistence on playing from the back – a problem that dates all the way back to Brentford in August and their teething problems under Ten Hag.
Maguire played the ball back to De Gea, who should have hit it downfield, but instead passed it back to his captain on the edge of the penalty area, even though there were three players in white shirts nearby.
Maguire could have gone back to De Gea again, but tried to pass alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right. The pass was cut by Erik Lamela and the ball broke for Youssef En-Nesyri. De Gea was a sitting duck when the Moroccan shot past him.
The Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan exploded as it had threatened. It was a reminder that Maguire will never be the multi-purpose defender Ten Hag wants, and both the United boss and Christian Eriksen made their thoughts clear to the England defender in the ensuing minutes.
The Sevilla fans smelled the smell of blood and the whistle increased every time Maguire got the ball, only to increase the sense of fear around him.
However, he was not alone. While Sevilla played as if their season depended on this match, United suffered from a chronic lack of energy and ideas. None of them came out of the first half with any credit.
In defense they threatened to be overrun. On offense, Wan-Bissaka’s tame effort straight at Bounou in the 23rd minute summed up their lack of potency. Casemiro headed over from Antony’s cross shortly afterwards.
Casemiro was as poor as he has not been in any game for United to date, and it was his misplaced pass that gave Sevilla possession as Lucas Ocampos beat De Gea again in the 39th minute. Fortunately for United, it was ruled out by VAR for offside, but a second goal would by no means have flattered the Spaniards.
However, it came within seconds of the restart, after Ten Hag sent off Rashford and Shaw to try and salvage the match. Sevilla forced a corner and Ivan Rakitic’s throw picked out Loic Bade. The Frenchman rose above Casemiro and actually made contact with his shoulder, sending the ball over De and coming in off the underside of the crossbar.
United rallied without ever really threatening a comeback and En-Nesyri hit the third goal into an empty net from 25 yards out after De Gea came out to meet a long through ball and hopelessly miscontrolled.
United now head to Wembley for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton, under enormous pressure not to go out of two competitions in the space of four days.