The long season of Manchester United ended in their 61st game and in the semi-final heartbeat for the third time. Extra time appeared the favorite result before Luuk de Jong posed for Victor Lindelöf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to score the winner 12 minutes of time for Sevilla.
As they face Shakhtar Donetsk as Internazionale in Friday’s final, Ole Gunnar Solskjær will head to the beach and reflect on what may have been. A Premier League finish in third place is admirable, but losing in the League Cup, FA Cup and now Europa League semi-finals is a disappointment that United do not want to repeat.
What should cost them this evening for Solskjær, because it is the leitmotif of many defeats of the United States: a vulnerability before goal and a vulnerable defense, which may have known four or five. This plus a lack of depth in most positions is what the manager needs to address in this transfer window.
Sevilla were paid as probably the toughest opposition post-lockdown by Solskjær and they proved it, although it was his side that started – and ended – on the front foot.
First, Marcus Rashford found Bruno Fernandes, who passed to Mason Greenwood. A corner kick was awarded, but when it broke and Fred crossed Harry Maguire, he failed to save Yassine Bounou.
Sevilla’s No. 1 missed a Rashford shot in the move that claimed the only strike by the United States. Once again made flowers of Anthony Martial as world class No. 9. His clever pass around the corner was a return to Rashford that allowed him to shoot at Bounou and while the rescue was being made, Diego Carlos was judged by Felix Brych around him to take out, and the referee received a penalty. After his trad-hop-then swing, Fernandes finished with confidence in the top right corner.
Sevilla were unbeaten in 19 and showed why Lucas Ocampos moved backwards and David de Gea forced the ball to beat for a corner. This initiates an increase in temperatures that cool down almost to the end. Brandon Williams and Carlos were booked – the latter had somehow escaped the same fate for the spotlight.
A Fred shot out Sevilla and saw much more of the ball at United’s goal. Each time Solskjær’s men tried a pass out, Martial as Rashford could not stick it. This precisely concedes the concession of a defensive disastrous equalizer: Wan-Bissaka lost Sergio Reguilón and after the left-back coast was past him, his cross was smeared at home by Suso.
This had again given Rashford a complaint about an instance not given in advance, but the real issue was a lack of control from United. Paul Pogba’s pass was hitherto anonymous: when he finally coupled to a square ball to Martial, the Frenchman blew over, but the difference this made was apparent.
At least it turned out again when Maguire was fined for a challenge on Youssef En-Nesyri and Julen Lopetegui accused the United captain of an elbow. This had Brych warned manager of Sevilla and Solskjær told his opposite number to be quiet.
A spinning Rashford 30-yard free-kick tested Bounou and Fernandes’ volley did the same as United ended the half-pinning Sevilla back, with Pogba having an extended word with Brych as the sides fumbled.
Solskjær had to calm his men down and make sure the second half was one of focus on the price of a definitive appearance. United started bright again when Sevilla revised their quota needle.
Opportunities came and went. A weighted Fernandes pass put Greenwood in and his shot from the right foot was blocked, preventing what looked like United’s second. Next, Fernandes crosses for Martial, but a point-blank Bounou save frustrates him. Rashford’s follow-up was voiced and moments later the Portuguese cornered with another close attempt that failed.
United’s brilliance was evident when Sevilla responded by punching through their weak midfield. This was a concern because of their serial spur of opportunities. Again: Martial looked in twice, but failed to bring the killer touch.
Lopetegui took off En-Nesyri and Ocampos, which was strange at this point, as each had led the teams to nibble on United. Two back-heeled Pogba pirouettes clearly took him, but again, no cutting edge was applied.
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Alarm bells rang as Joan Jordán’s free kick hit Fernandes’ arm and a noisy Sevilla contingent screamed for a penalty: VAR countered. But now Lopetegui’s decision to take Ocampos was wisely proved, because De Jong finished past De Gea after beating Wan-Bissaka and Lindelöf; Fernandes then appeared to astonish the latter.
United finished fresh, but could not open Sevilla’s door. Now, for her, it’s all about next season.
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