Sevilla 2-1 Manchester United
There are two ways of looking at this Europa League defeat as a Manchester United fan.
The first is very negative, the second is more positive and encouraging.
In truth, some of what I’ve witnessed and reported on this season has been beyond acceptable.
Yet there have been other occasions which have been uplifting and hinted at a possible renaissance and more uplifting things to come.
After this defeat – the third in a cup semi-final this season – the disappointment is tangible and it is this SBOBET pundit’s belief that, without significant strengthening in key areas (savvier players and a pacy centre back partner for Harry Maguire), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken the club as far as he can.
On the flip side, since late January there has been a distinct improvement and the recovery to claim a Champions League place has shown signs of promise.
While I’m not convinced they can go onto win silverware under the current set-up, let alone challenge for the title, Utd will now take a short but much-needed break before starting a new season, hopefully afresh.
Meanwhile, Sevilla are in the final of the competition they love so much and are just 90 minutes away from a sixth tournament success in less than 15 years.
Highlights of the game
Europa League highlights were aplenty from the whistle with both sides creating openings and when Marcus Rashford was fouled by Diego Carlos, Bruno Fernandes confidently despatched the resultant penalty.
The Portuguese star was only signed in late January but is the one player that has deserved to end the season with a winning medal of some description.
From there though, the Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero as he denied United on a number of occasions and Sevilla took full advantage of that profligacy and a vulnerable defence.
Suso levelled for the La Liga club midway through the first half and, as chances went begging, they were further rewarded when Luuk De Jong bagged a late winner for Julen Lopetegui’s men who had more know-how throughout.
A lack of quality depth in key areas was telling as United went down to defeat in what was their 61st game of a mammoth season.
Solskjaer must address that urgently over the next month and also question why such a player like Paul Pogba is the biggest underachiever I have witnessed in 30 years. A genuine talent but a player who appears unable or unwilling to show maturity, leadership and take ownership and control of a game.
A third-place Premier League finish is admirable but losing in the League Cup, FA Cup and now Europa League semi-finals is a disappointment United will not wish to repeat.
As for Sevilla, it seems you can never go against them with the Europa League betting odds in this competition.
Now, Lopetegui is ready for the Andalusians to win it again.
Key statistics
Sevilla are now unbeaten in 20 games, just the fourth different side within Europe’s top five leagues this season to enjoy such a run (also Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid).
United have now been eliminated from European competition by Spanish opposition for the third consecutive campaign.
They have been awarded 22 penalties in all competitions this season, the most by a side in a single campaign within Europe’s top five leagues since Barcelona in 2015-16 (24).
Since his United debut, only Robert Lewandowski (28) and Lionel Messi (27) have had a direct hand in more goals in all competitions than Fernandes (20 – 12 goals, eight assists) within Europe’s top five leagues.
Sevilla have reached the Europa League semi-final on three previous occasions and gone on to win the tournament each time (2014, 2015, 2016). They have only been eliminated in one of their past 20 knockout ties in the competition, losing 6-5 on aggregate to Slavia Prague in the last 16 in 2018-19.
In 2019/20, United are the first-ever English top-flight team to fall at the semi-final stage (League Cup, FA Cup, Europa League) of three different competitions within the same campaign.
Until tonight, United had progressed to the final from each of their past four European semi-final appearances (2008, 2009 and 2011 Champions League and 2017 Europa League), winning the trophy on two of those four occasions.
Sevilla have reached their sixth UEFA Cup/Europa League final, at least two more times than any other side in the history of the competition.
What’s next?
Sevilla will face either Shakhtar Donetsk or Inter Milan in the final on Friday, 21 August, also in Cologne.
It’s the end of the season for United and a third successive trophy-less campaign.
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