Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage after an awful performance ended in a 2-1 home defeat by Sevilla. Substitute Wissam Ben Yedder was the match-winner for the Spanish side, shooting from inside the area just two minutes after coming on and heading in at the back post from a corner. After posing little threat in the goalless first leg, United again looked second best against the La Liga side, though Marouane Fellaini’s thumping effort did draw Sergio Rico into a save and the away goalkeeper kept out Jesse Lingard’s low strike.
Romelu Lukaku lashed home from close range with seven minutes remaining, but it proved to be merely a consolation. United exit the competition along with Tottenham, but Premier League leaders Manchester City and Liverpool progressed to Friday’s quarter-final draw. Chelsea can join them if they beat Barcelona on Wednesday. United entered the competition after winning last season’s Europa League final, but they lag well behind the continent’s elite in Europe. Manager Jose Mourinho has often been criticised by his own supporters for his cautious style of play and the approach proved extremely costly on this occasion. At one point, the home fans were chanting “attack, attack, attack” towards their own players.
His side looked devoid of ideas for large periods of the two matches, playing pedestrian football for much of it, and his selection and tactics for this game seemed muddled too. Midfielder Fellaini was off the pace having been given a first start since November, while Marcus Rashford played from the right, despite scoring twice and causing so many problems for Liverpool in their previous game from the opposite flank.
Mourinho also needs to work out how best to use the talents of January signing Alexis Sanchez, who played from the left, but failed to make an impression on the contest. Twice a winner of the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, Portuguese Mourinho exited at this stage of the competition for only the fourth time in 12 seasons. There was optimism for the Red Devils going into the game after collecting impressive victories over Jurgen Klopp’s men, Chelsea and coming from 2-0 down to beat Crystal Palace in recent games.
But their best spell was the opening five minutes of the game at Old Trafford, when they were on the front foot and striker Lukaku struck wide and had an effort blocked from close range. The hosts failed to build on their positive start and, although Lukaku scored his 24th of the season late on, the damage had already been done.
