Manchester United in stern test against 5-time Europa League champions

quarterfinal win over Copenhagen. “I think that mental point will decide (the) semifinal and final.”

Semifinals have been a problem for United. Manchester City knocked United out of the EFL Cup at the semifinal stage in January and Chelsea did the same in the FA Cup last month.

United finished the Premier League season in style but needs to replicate that form on the European stage. Against Copenhagen, Europa League top scorer Bruno Fernandes eventually won the game 1-0 with a penalty, but only after the Danish club had forced United to extra time.

Sevilla narrowly avoided extra time in its 1-0 win over Wolverhampton thanks to

Lucas Ocampos’ winning goal in the 88th minute. Sevilla is unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions and coach Julen Lopetegui says the players are fired up.

“(United) are obviously a top team with great strength, but these are the semifinals of the Europa League, and the only thing that will help us through any difficulty or situation that we come across at this high level is ambition, excitement and the desire to compete,” Lopetegui said.

Solskjaer out to avoid hattrick of semifinal pain for United

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to draw on the “painful” experience of two semifinal defeats this season when his team meets five-time champion Sevilla in today’s Europa League last-four clash.

United was eliminated at the same stage in the English League Cup by Manchester City in January and by Chelsea in the FA Cup last month.

“You know that when you come to a semifinal, you’re playing against big teams, good teams with quality, and it’s time to step up,” Solskjaer said.

“You have to have 100% focus because any little moment can change a game, can win you the game, can lose you the game. And we’ve learned it’s very painful to lose a semifinal.”

Solskjaer added he wants United to put pressure on Sevilla and fight for possession right from the first whistle.

“If you start on the back foot, if you don’t get your first touches, if you don’t get the first tackle in, you’re going searching a little bit,” he said.

Victory would put United one victory away from its first trophy since winning the Europa League under Jose Mourinho in 2017. But Sevilla is the most successful team in the competition’s history.