United’s tactics under intense scrutiny

– Jose Mourinho (left) was condemned for his negative tactics after Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League to Sevilla, with Alexis Sanchez anonymous and Paul Pogba’s confidence apparently in tatters.

United, riding high in the Premier League, started the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday as strong favourites to progress to the quarterfinals after a goalless draw in Spain, but mustered just four shots on target across both legs.

Two late goals from substitute Wissam Ben Yedder gave the home side a mountain to climb and a consolation goal from Romelu Lukaku was far too little, too late, with United exiting the competition 2-1 on aggregate.

London

Mourinho fielded four forwards – Sanchez, Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard – in an attacking-looking line-up at Old Trafford, but United only broke free of the shackles in the desperate closing minutes.

A stubborn Mourinho, who has won the competition with Porto and Inter Milan, said his side had not put in a “bad performance” but that contrasted with the sour mood in Manchester after a first home European defeat since 2013 to a Sevilla side fifth in La Liga.

“If you are a team at home, the onus is on you to go out and attack and make sure you take the game away from the opposing team,” said former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who won the Champions League under Alex Ferguson in 2008. – AFP 14:00 on SS3 Caf Confederation Cup 1st round, 2nd leg SS United v Petro de Luanda 18:55 on SS9 Absa Premiership Maritzburg Utd v Polokwane City 19:55 on SS4