United’s derby high short-lived as Sevilla ends European dream
MANCHESTER (Reuters) – Manchester United fans had just two days to savor their team’s win over arch-rival Liverpool before Spain’s Sevilla brought the Red Devils back down to earth, eliminating them from the Champions League late Tuesday night.
The 2-1 win by Vincenzo Montella’s side, which is in fifth place in La Liga and struggling to qualify for next year’s competition, cuts United’s European campaign short, but it only had itself to blame.
It was a disjointed display lacking conviction at times and strikingly different from the combative performance shown against Liverpool.
Mourinho’s decision to change the team which played with great discipline and desire in the 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool on Saturday was puzzling, especially given the alterations it forced across the field.
Marcus Rashford, so brilliant on the left with his two goals in the North West derby, was moved to the right flank while Alexis Sanchez, who had looked promising playing just behind Romelu Lukaku, was switched back to the left wing.
Scott McTominay, a calm defensive midfield presence against Liverpool was left out to make way for Marouane Fellaini, who only returned from injury last week and Juan Mata made way for Jesse Lingard.
Whatever the motivation for the changes, whether tactical or rotation for freshness, the line-up simply did not work.
Chilean Sanchez has yet to settle in at Old Trafford following his January move from Arsenal and he appears to be lacking confidence and unsure of his role.
Rashford showed moments of his devastating acceleration and directness, but he is more effective when cutting in from the left and Lingard’s running straight at the Sevilla defense produced little other than lost possession.
With Nemanja Matic alone in the defensive midfield role, Fellaini was all over the midfield in his usual aggressive fashion, but provided little composure or balance. SEVILLA FORWARD Wissam Ben Yedder (not pictured) scores his team’s second goal – and his second of the match – past Manchester United ’keeper David De Gea in the 78th minute of the Spanish side’s 2-1 victory in Tuesday night’s second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie.
While Sevilla certainly did not sparkle, until the two stunning late goals from substitute Wissam Ben Yedder won the game, it had the calmness in midfield that was lacking from United’s display.
Former Blackburn and Stoke midfielder Steven N’Zonzi was a cool and accomplished presence in the center of the field while Ever Banega was inventive in his playmaker role.
Mourinho accepted his team had to improve in all areas to progress further next season, but was not in the mood to criticize his team.
“We had good periods, we didn’t have great control over the game, but I can’t say there was anything wrong with my players and their intention to play,” he said.
“That’s football, we lost, but tomorrow is another day and Saturday is another match.”
Progress may be being made by Mourinho, but it is mid-March and his team is out of the race for the Premier League title, where it trails Manchester City by 16 points, and of Europe.
Suddenly the FA Cup, in which United faces Brighton in the quarterfinals at Old Trafford on Saturday, takes on a little more significance.
Dzeko sends Roma into quarters
Meanwhile, a determined AS Roma beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2008 as a magnificent finish by Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko sent it through on away-goals.
Roma celebrated only its second win in six meetings with the Ukrainian side and got revenge for a 6-2 aggregate defeat by Shakhtar at the same stage of the competition in 2011.
The Italian club endured a nervy finish, however, as Shakhtar ended the match on the front foot despite playing the final few minutes with 10 men after Ivan Ordets was sent off.
Having trailed 2-1 from the first leg, Roma looked bereft of ideas for much of the contest at the Stadio Olimpico before Dzeko broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute following a tepid first half devoid of goal-mouth action.
The Bosnian took a defense-splitting pass from midfielder Kevin Strootman into his stride and beat the offside trap before he steered the ball into the far corner with the outside of his foot past advancing ’keeper Andriy Pyatov.
“Everyone deserves a standing ovation because we all gave absolutely everything tonight and we fully deserve to be in the quarterfinals,” said Dzeko.
“We achieved something that’s been missing for 10 years and are now prepared to face anyone in the lasteight. All the other teams are strong but we are strong too.”
Roma’s former captain Francesco Totti, who watched anxiously from the terraces, was overjoyed at the final whistle.
“A fantastic result, a fantastic Roma,” he said on the club’s official twitter account. “Among the eight best sides in Europe and we push onto the next round.”