‘It’s been an absolute disaster’ – Scholes laments Manchester United’s torrid night in Europa League exit to Sevilla
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Updated 21/04/2023 at 10:45 GMT
It was a dreadful night for Erik ten Hag's side, whose European dreams were ended for another season following a sobering 3-0 Europa League quarter-final, second-leg loss to Sevilla. It was a calamity of errors for United, with two horrible defensive errors involving David de Gea gifting the six-time winners two goals. The Red Devils now turn their attention to an FA Cup semi-final with Brighton.
Ten Hag blasts Man Utd players after 'unacceptable’ defeat at Sevilla
Paul Scholes lamented a torrid night for Manchester United after they were dumped out by Sevilla following a 3-0 Europa League quarter-final, second-leg defeat.
Youssef En-Nesyri's brace and a goal for Loic Bade gave the six-time winners of this competition a 5-2 aggregate victory following a 2-2 first-leg draw at Old Trafford, and the United legend was left to rue a catalogue of defensive errors from Erik ten Hag’s side.
Scholes told BT Sport: “I'd say that the tie should have been done after the first half of the first leg.
“If you look at the two games, the two own goals they gave away in the first leg and the two calamitous goals tonight, it's been an absolute disaster of a quarter-final.
“We always mention the history of this club; I still feel Manchester United are a better team than Sevilla, but tonight they were outfought and outplayed, lacked the ability to take the ball and were sloppy.
“They lacked aggression in their own play. You turn to experienced players on nights like this to try and get some leadership from them. (Lisandro) Martinez missing tonight was a big miss, as was (Raphael) Varane, but you still expected those two (Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire) to come in with great experience to be good enough.
“Tonight, they weren't and it's made Ten Hag make his mind up on a few of these players.”
Scholes looked at the first goal in particular when David de Gea’s short pass put Harry Maguire in trouble and En-Nesyri pounced to net his first of the game, and lamented the shot-stopper’s lack of quality on the ball.
“David de Gea has been a fantastic goalkeeper, but he's not a fantastic footballer,” he added. “It's not a bad pass and I know Harry Maguire wanted it, but you have to read the situation and what's going on in the stadium. I don't know why he wants the ball.
“I'd say there's one centre-half in world football who is good at receiving the ball with his back to play. They're just uncomfortable.
“Regardless of the manager wanting you to play, just read the situation. Read the atmosphere of what's going on. It's not a place for that. They fell into the trap of playing those passes, because Sevilla were so aggressive in getting to the ball.”
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