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The Red Devils will take on Sevilla in the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League tonight. Manchester United have definitely started to look like themselves after the restart. The arrival of Bruno Fernandes and the return of Pogba and Marcus Rashford from injury have helped turn them into an entertaining side.
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The Red Devils' good form post the restart saw them finish 3rd on the Premier League table and qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that he would love to win the Europa League too as they take on Sevilla in the semifinal tonight.
It is not going to be easy for Manchester United to overcome the challenge posed by Sevilla. Let's take a look at 5 reasons why.
#5 Sevilla are in excellent form
Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla are unbeaten in their last 19 games. They have a great reputation in the UEFA Europa League and have won the competition 5 times already.
Sevilla have picked up 7 wins from their last 8. They are also high on confidence after seeing off the challenge posed by Wolves, a side that Manchester United have struggled against of late, and are expected to come out swinging from the gates as they have nothing at stake either.
Just like Manchester United, Sevilla have already qualified for the Champions League next season. Manchester United, meanwhile, despite creating many chances last match would be aware that they'll need to be at their best tonight to get past Sevilla who are much better than Copehagen.
#4 Pressure is on Manchester United
This will be Manchester United's third semi-final of the season. After having lost two of them, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already stressed on how important it is for a Manchester United team to be aspiring for more.
"It’s a semi-final, everyone will want to take part and join in and I just want them to enjoy it. For me, I'm looking forward to it.
"We've had two semis this season, and we're happy with going as far as we have but we want to go one step further.
Memories of a terrible night in Sevilla from the Jose Mourinho reign will also haunt Manchester United and their fans are calling for revenge. Mourinho famously refused to start Paul Pogba in the second leg of Manchester United's Champions League tie against Sevilla and an insipid United lost to Sevilla without a fight.
The onus is on the Manchester United players to turn this around and prove that the progress that they have been making has now put them on par with some of the best performing clubs in Europe.
#3 Sevilla's comfort; United's grief
On three previous occasions when Sevilla reached the Europa League semi-final (2014, 2015, 2016), they went on to lift the trophy. What is even more interesting is the fact that they have only been defeated in one of their past 20 knockout ties in the Europa League, losing 6-5 on aggregate to Slavia Prague in the last 16 in 2018-19 season.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are yet to win a trophy under Solskjaer. In fact, they last won a cup in the 2016/17 season, lifting the Europa League under Jose Mourinho. They've already lost two semi-finals this season. Many of the current Manchester United players are not well acquainted with big occasions unlike their Sevilla counterparts.
#2 Manchester United starters are fatigued
The likes of Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes have started nearly every single game since the restart. And post the Covid break, the games have been coming thick and fast and there really has been hardly any time to recover for the players.
Of course then it doesn't help that Manchester United do not have quality squad depth and there is a gulf in class between their starters and substitutes. For example, you simply cannot expect the same kind of productivity from Jesse Lingard or Andreas Pereira as Bruno Fernandes.
Anthony Martial has looked good and so has Marcus Rashford. But Greenwood might find it difficult to cope as he is still just 18-years-old. The fact that the last game against Copenhagen went into extra time certainly does not help. Sevilla are slightly better rested in that regard.
#1 Sevilla full-backs could disrupt Manchester United's flow
With Luke Shaw unavailable, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to rely on Brandon Williams. Though the youngster is pretty impressive himself, both his and Aaron Wan-Bissaka's offensive game leaves a lot to be desired.
Tonight, the Manchester United full-backs are expected to have their hands full in a defensive sense as both Jesus Navas and Sergio Reguilon are both excellent in joining the attack and whipping in dangerous balls into the area.
Manchester United rely on their full-backs holding a high line and interchanging positions with Rashford and Greenwood. However, Sevilla might be a whole different proposition with regard to this aspect. If the United full-backs are constantly kept busy in their own half, then it could severely hamper Manchester United's flow going forward.
