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    Gary Neville can’t agree with former Man Utd team-mate over Harry Maguire’s role in disastrous Sevilla goal

    GARY NEVILLE has jumped to the defence of Harry Maguire after Manchester United conceded a farcical goal against Sevilla.But his former team-mate Owen Hargreaves slammed the United captain after he gave away possession for Youssef El-Nesyri to score.
    Harry Maguire’s mistake led to Manchester United’s opening goalCredit: Reuters
    David de Gea also played a big role in the goal as he passed the ball out to Maguire despite Sevilla’s high press.
    Neville felt De Gea put his team-mate under unnecessary pressure, leaving the defender with limited options.
    He said: “Maguire will get battered but that pass from De Gea I wouldn’t like!”
    However Hargraves was less sympathetic and criticised Maguire for his decision-making.
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    He slammed Maguire’s failure to simply clear the ball and pointed out the similarities to United’s implosion at Brentford earlier in the season.
    He told BT Sport: “If he’s going to receive it, he’s got to receive it on his back foot and he’s got to turn out.
    “What he tries to do is just try to flip it round the corner and that’s a turnover in possession.
    “There are three opposition players there, you can’t play there just kick it.
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    “That was Brentford, trying to play out from the back when it’s not on. Just clear your lines.
    “Maguire, don’t ask for the ball there just clear your lines, grow into the game.” More

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    Paul Scholes savages Man Utd over ‘DISGRACEFUL’ Europa League exit and blasts De Gea as ‘not a fantastic footballer’

    PAUL SCHOLES slammed David de Gea and questioned his Manchester United future following his pair of Sevilla howlers.The goalkeeper made a two glaring errors in the 3-0 defeat which saw United crash out of the Europa League.
    Paul Scholes slammed David de Gea and called United’s performance a “disgrace”Credit: BT Sport
    De Gea made two big mistakes against SevillaCredit: Getty
    The Spaniard let down his team with his footwork for two goals, leading Scholes to question whether he is the right keeper for Erik ten Hag.
    De Gea is out of contract in the summer but has been tipped to sign a new deal on reduced terms.
    However, Scholes feels he is not suited to the passing game Ten Hag wants to play, and accused the No1 of making his team-mates nervous.
    He told BT Sport: “You have to question the goalkeeper, especially tonight. Erik ten Hag, eventually, will want to play out from the back.
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    “David de Gea has been a fantastic goalkeeper, but he is not a fantastic footballer. We saw the pass he played into Harry Maguire.
    “Look, it’s not a bad pass and I know that Harry Maguire wanted it, but you have to read the situation, read what’s going on in the stadium and it is not a place [to do it].
    “Regardless of whether the manager wants him to play, read the situation. He needed to read what was going on.
    “They fell into the trap of playing those passes and Sevilla were aggressive in getting to the ball.
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    “I think he was making the whole team nervous. It’s a question of: does he fit Erik ten Hag’s philosophy?”
    De Gea helped gift Sevilla an opener when he underhit a pass to an under-pressure Harry Maguire, who gave away the ball for Youssef El-Nesyri to score.
    The striker later added his second goal of the game after De Gea failed to control a loose ball, leaving an empty net behind him.
    Some have even questioned the goalie for the second goal, as Loic Bade’s header looped over him and perhaps could have been kept out.
    Scholes also tore into the rest of the team, labelling United’s performance across the two legs a “disgrace”.
    He added: “‘Over the two games the own goals gave it away.
    “It has been an absolute disgrace of a quarter-final. United were outfought. Outplayed. They were sloppy on the ball. They lacked aggression.
    “They didn’t handle the aggression from Sevilla tonight.” More

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    Eagle-eyed Man Utd fans reckon Anthony Martial was injured by Harry Maguire as striker adds to FA Cup fitness woes

    EAGLE-EYED Manchester United supporters appear to have discovered a clip showing exactly how Anthony Martial was hurt – and they believe it was caused by his own TEAM-MATE.The Red Devils completely collapsed in Sevilla, going down 3-0 to lose their Europa League quarter-final tie 5-2 on aggregate last night.
    Anthony Martial suffered a fresh injury in the defeat to SevillaCredit: Getty
    The forward collided with two of his team-mates as Sevilla scored their second goalCredit: Twitter

    United were behind when Harry Maguire lost possession and Youssef En-Nesri pounced after seven minutes.
    The lead was extended two minutes after the break through Loic Bade before a David de Gea blunder as he miscontrolled the ball allowed En-Nesri a second on 81 minutes.
    Things got even worse for Martial as he was forced off through injury on 54 minutes.
    The French striker looked like he could not move properly after his mysterious blow, leading to boss Erik ten Hag replacing him with Wout Weghorst, who failed to make any impact himself.
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    Fans were left wondering what had happened to Martial, but one supporter was quick to provide an answer as he shared a clip of United defending the set-piece from which Bade headed home.
    And it appeared to show captain Maguire crashing into Marcel Sabitzer and his fellow team-mate while scrambling to clear the ball.
    Martial then falls over clutching his foot with Sabitzer on top of him. 
    “Maguire injured Martial you couldn’t write it,” said one supporter.
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    Another commented: “My chest!!!! Maguire why!!!!! We are sorry.”
    Although many defended the England defender, insisting it was actually Sabitzer’s fault, writing: “It’s actually Sabitzer. @Specsavers  have a word.”
    Another said: “It was Sabitzer, don’t make it worse.”
    Martial now appears to be in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Brighton at Wembley. More

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    Ten Hag rips into his Man Utd team after shocker vs Sevilla blasting ‘not composed, not calm, bad decisions’

    ERIK TEN HAG slammed his Manchester United flops for showing a lack of fight and letting the fans down.The Red Devils completely collapsed in Sevilla, going down 3-0 to lose their Europa League quarter-final tie 5-2 on aggregate.
    The Red Devils show their dejection after a shocking 3-0 defeat and exitCredit: PA
    Erik ten Hag admits the worst thing about Utd’s display was the lack of fightCredit: Reuters
    Ten Hag said: “We have to face it that we let ourselves down and let the fans down and if you want to win trophies if you want to be successful you need character.
    “Tonight was not good enough it was obvious, it was clear, we didn’t match the standards you can expect from a team from Manchester United.”
    Ten Hag was asked if the most disappointing thing was the lack of fight in his team.
    He said: “I have to acknowledge, it is the truth, it is hard, it is tough. It can’t be, it is unacceptable.
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    “We have to start games better with more desire and when you get a setback you have to deal with it and carry on
    “We have to be better and it is not about playing skills, it is about character and being composed and have desire and passion.
    “We lost the battles, they had more passion, more desire, more willingness.
    “It can’t be and I think it is unacceptable.
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    “We can’t run away from it.
    “This was a great opportunity, a great occasion, to win something and we gave it away – we have to blame ourselves. It’s gone, we can’t change it.”
    United were behind when Harry Maguire lost possession and Youssef En-Nesri pounced after seven minutes.
    The lead was extended two minutes after the break through Loic Bade before a David de Gea blunder as he miscontrolled the ball allowed En-Nesri a second on 81 minutes.
    Ten Hag jumped to De Gea’s defence.
    He said: “He is the one with the most clean sheets in the Premier League so it shows he is a very capable keeper.”
    Now Ten Hag has a job on his hands to lift his players for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.
    He said: “I had this question many times after City after Liverpool after Brentford and every time we bounce back and in that perspective we have character.
    “We have very strong mental skills and in some occasions we are there but we have to accept now this is unacceptable.
    “Everyone can see the demands and standards have to be higher.

    “Against Nottingham Forest last Sunday we were composed we had the desire and here we didn’t have what you can expect from a player and a team from Manchester United.
    “We need to do it consistently. Too often we have really poor performances and it can’t be.” More

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    Fans joke Man Utd goalmouth scramble is something out of ‘Sunday league’ as Savage says ‘What on earth is going on!?’

    FOOTIE fans likened a goalmouth scramble in Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Sevilla to ‘Sunday league’ football.The Red Devils travelled to the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan stadium on Thursday night looking to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament.

    A wild goalmouth scrambled took place on the Manchester United goal line in the second half of their clash with SevillaCredit: BT SPORT
    The Red Devils had Diogo Dalot to thank for them not going down three downCredit: GETTY
    But they were under the cosh for large portions of the second leg of their quarter-final tie – which they ended up losing 5-2 on aggregate.
    And a scramble in front of David de Gea’s goal in the 51st minute epitomised how badly United defended on the night.
    A blocked header from Youssef En-Nesyri sparked pandemonium inside United’s six-yard box – with Lucas Ocampos having a shot blocked on the line.
    Two more Sevilla players dived in to try and bundle the ball home but were met with fierce resistance on the line from Diogo Dalot.
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    And United eventually managed to clear their lines through Casemiro – although it wasn’t long before they were back under pressure.
    Fans watching the game couldn’t quite believe their eyes, with one saying: “What an absolute shambles.”
    Another said: “Shocking, Sunday league stuff!”
    One remarked: “Defence filled with clowns who look like they are playing footie for the first time in their entire lives!”
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    Another chimed in: “Sunday League rags.”
    Former Red Devils midfielder and commentator for the night Robbie Savage was equally as baffled, asking: “What on earth is going on.- with this Manchester United?”
    Sevilla ran out 3-0 winners on the night thanks to a brace from En-Nesyri and a strike from Loic Balde.
    Manager Erik ten Hag said after the match: “We have to do better, that’s the demand. We were not composed, not calm.
    “We didn’t beat the press, when you do there are so many spaces behind, and it was obvious at the start how to do it.
    “We lost the battles, they had more passion, more desire, more willingness, that’s difficult to win games.
    Erik ten Hag slammed his player’s lacklustre display at the Ramon Sanchez PijuanCredit: REUTERS
    “We can’t run away from it. On Sunday we have another opportunity and have to step up and show more character and personality.
    “It’s not about them [the players they were missing], it’s about the players on the pitch.
    “They have to perform, I believe in them and trust them but they have to show it and they were not good enough.
    “We have shown on so many occasions good things but tonight we weren’t ready for the game.
    “At this level, playing for Manchester United, you have to be ready for every game.
    “This was a great opportunity, a great occasion, to win something and we gave it away – we have to blame ourselves. It’s gone, we can’t change it.

    “We have to look forward to Sunday, that’s the next opportunity.”
    Manchester United will be back in action on Sunday, travelling to Wembley to take on Brighton in their FA Cup semi-final tie. More

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    Watch Jose Mourinho’s assistant manager get SENT OFF after ‘smacking Feyenoord star in the face’

    ROMA assistant manager Salvatore Foti was sent off for HITTING a Feyenoord player in their Europa League quarter-final tie.Jose Mourinho and his troops welcomed the Dutch giants to the Stadio Olimpico for the second leg of the European clash on Thursday night.

    Roma assistant manager Salvatore Foti clashed with Feyenoord’s Santiago Giminez during the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tieCredit: REX
    Mexican forward Gimenez writhed on the floor in agony after the clashCredit: AP
    Referee Anthony Taylor didn’t hesitate to give Foti his marching ordersCredit: REX
    But The Special One ended up being a man down in the dug out when Foti needlessly clashed with Santiago Gimenez.
    Foti ended up striking the Mexican forward as he tried to stop him from getting the ball after it went out of play.
    The 34-year-old accidentally hit Gimenez with his left hand as he tried to pull him away from the ball.
    Gimenez went down in a heap and referee Anthony Taylor didn’t hesitate to give Foti his marching orders.
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    Former Sampdoria hitman Foti is no stranger to seeing red on the touchline.
    He was dismissed from the dugout in Roma’s shock Italian cup exit to Cremonese in February for “repeatedly insulting the referee”.
    He was also sanctioned for “threatening a director of the opposing team” and waiting for the ref outside of his dressing room.
    Moti was given a one-month ban from the dugout – which kept him in the stands for four Serie A matches.
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    Roma’s clash with Feyenoord went to extra-time following a 2-1 victory for the Giallorossi – which leveled the tie at 2-2.
    Leonardo Spinazzola broke the deadlock on the hour mark to level the tie.
    Igor Paixao, however, put the visitors on the brink of the semis when he struck in the 80th minute.
    But Paulo Dybala forced extra-time with an 89th-minute winner.
    Former AC Milan hitman Stephan El Shaarawy put them on the brink of the semis in the 101st minute after latching onto a Tammy Abraham cross.
    And Lorenzo Pellegrini sealed Roma’s passage to the semis with a tap-in after latching onto a saved Abraham shot. More

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    Europa League semi-final draw: Dates, teams, fixtures – Juventus facing Sevilla

    THE EUROPA LEAGUE is nearing a thrilling finale.The quarter-finals are being decided this week, and the draw has already been made for the semi-finals.
    The Europa League semi-final draw has taken placeCredit: Reuters
    The Europa League semi-final draw was made on the same day as the quarter-finals – so teams know their path to the final in Budapest on May 31.
    Manchester United have been knocked out after losing 5-2 on aggregate to Sevilla.
    Sevilla will now face Juventus, who defeated Sporting.
    Here’s all you need to know for the crucial semi-finals.
    When are the Europa League semi-finals?
    The Europa League semi-finals are taking place on Thursday May 11 (first legs) and Thursday May 18 (second legs).
    These are the semi-finals which will take place following the quarters.
    Juventus vs SevillaRoma vs Leverkusen
    Man Utd have been knocked out of the Europa LeagueCredit: Alamy
    Europa League remaining dates
    Semi-final legs: May 11/ May 18
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    Fina: Wednesday, May 31 (Budapest’s Puskas Arena) More

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    Man Utd ratings: Antony sole player to show any desire while only De Gea knows what he was trying to do

    MANCHESTER UNITED saw their cup treble dreams fizzle out with a whimper after a shocking display against Sevilla. Following the collapse at Old Trafford United needed to start the second leg well to stand a chance of going through against the Europa League specialists.
    Manchester United produced a disaster class in handling a European tieCredit: Getty
    However, a combined calamity from David de Gea and Harry Maguire put paid to that as Maguire gifted the ball for Youssef En-Nesyri’s opener inside eight minutes.
    The second half started no better, with Casemiro losing his man at a corner as an effort deflected off Loic Bade’s shoulder and looped over De Gea.
    De Gea then rushed out his goal to try and sweep away the danger of a Sevilla long ball, but misjudged it and gifted the ball to En-Nesyri to score his second of the night in an open net.
    It was a match also summed up by a complete lack of effort and desire to win second battles, as they were outfought and outmatched by the La Liga side.
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    Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Red Devils.
    David de Gea – 2
    David de Gea and Harry Maguire summed up a miserable evening for the Red DevilsCredit: Getty
    Played a hospital pass to Maguire for Sevilla’s opener and looked unsettled at times later on in the half. Robbie Savage planted blame for the looping second goal at his doorstep.
    Only De Gea knows what he was trying to do as he rushed out for the third goal, which sums up the grievances many United fans have with the Spaniard.
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 5
    How this match could have been different if De Gea passed to him in the eighth minute. Wan-Bissaka was dependable enough when progressing the ball upfield.
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    Shifted to left-back in the latter stages of the first half and was then hooked by Ten Hag at half-time.
    Harry Maguire – 3
    Shocking error to gift Sevilla the lead after just eight minutes. Inexplicably called for the ball before trying a blind pass to Wan-Bissaka under pressure.
    Guilty of giving the ball away on a number of occasions later on as well. Two horror European legs to forget for him.
    Victor Lindelof – 6
    A steady-eddie as his defensive partner seemed to implode next to him.
    Competent enough on the ball and won enough defensive duels when challenged. Unspectacular night for the Swede but did his job on the whole.
    Diogo Dalot – 5
    Once again deputising at left-back in the absence of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia but was shifted back to the right side late in the first half.
    Blocked two shots on the line in a goalmouth scramble early in the second half.
    Casemiro – 4
    Casemiro was far from his bestCredit: Reuters
    A ghost of the player seen for much of the season tonight. Often guilty of not plugging gaps in midfield well enough and also sloppy on the ball at times.
    Lost his man for the corner at the start of the second half. Booked later in the half so would have missed the semi-final first leg.
    Christian Eriksen – 4
    Unable to help United control the midfield for much of the game and struggled in the frantic nature it.
    Poor display from the Dane before being subbed off in the 86th minute.
    Marcel Sabitzer – 5
    Like Eriksen unable to really grab hold of the midfield battle and dictate tempo.
    Up for the fight but lacked the passes in behind he thrived off last week.
    Antony – 6
    Only United player who looked they had a modicum of desire in the first half. However, the final ball was unable to find target whenever a chance presented itself – not that there were many.
    Less able to make an impact in the second half.
    Jadon Sancho – 3
    BT Sport’s Paul Scholes slammed Sancho’s opening actions in the game as “terrible” and unfortunately that’s all the chance he was given by Ten Hag after being hooked at half-time.
    Even forgetting the lack of quality on show, Sancho’s desire left a lot to be questioned, particularly given Antony’s work rate on the opposite flank.
    Anthony Martial – 5
    Anthony Martial went off injuredCredit: Getty
    Limped off injured once again and is set for a return to the club’s medical room.
    Not his best night even prior to the injury. Struggled to get involved and link with his fellow attackers.
    Substitutes
    Marcus Rashford (On for Sancho 46mins) – 6
    Returned from injury and was able to offer something to in behind or out wide. However, didn’t look his sharpest and was unable to lift the team as much as they needed.
    Luke Shaw (On for Wan-Bissaka 46mins) – 5
    Came on following an injury and played like it. Passing range was off-key all over the pitch.
    Wout Weghorst (On for Martial 54mins) – 5
    Once again put in the hard yards in the final third but as always showed a lack of cutting edge.

    Fred (On for Sabitzer 68mins) – 5
    Came on to add energy but with couldn’t offer the lift needed to turn the tie around.
    Anthony Elanga (On for Eriksen 86mins) – N/A
    Saved the embarrassment of being associated with his team-mates for most of the night and actually worked the Sevilla goalkeeper in his brief cameo. More