London
\nManchester United have already proven they have what it takes to beat Sevilla. Somehow, they didn\u2019t manage to see it through.
\nErik ten Hag\u2019s side should head into next week\u2019s second leg with a comfortable lead to reflect their overall dominance on Thursday night. Instead, they enter it even, having thrown away a two-goal lead.
\nThere is no need for a wild overreaction to the disappointing ending, and United will hope that their late capitulation will knock out any further complacency when it looked like they already had the game sewn up.
\nWhat is certain heading into the second leg is that they will have to do so without the help of talisman midfielder Bruno Fernandes after he was shown a yellow card that will keep him out of the trip to Spain.
\nThe Portuguese playmaker was harshly booked when a wayward effort hit his hand on Thursday night, but no matter how big the sense of injustice is, United must accept that he won\u2019t be available.
\nFernandes has arguably been the most consistent performer for United this season, continuing with his importance to the side since Ten Hag took charge. He has played a part in 48 of the 50 matches possible, and has played the most minutes out of anyone else at the club in the process.
\nHe has played 621 minutes more than the next outfielder on the list, which is almost the equivalent of another seven 90-minute performances, with David de Gea the only other player to come close to his time on the pitch this season.
\nThere is no way of twisting the fact that he will be a huge miss for United in the second leg, but they have at least now found a way of coping without his creativity.
\nThe most obvious is in the form of Marcel Sabitzer, who grabbed the headlines with two well-taken goals on Thursday night. When he initially arrived at the club, he struggled somewhat playing in a central midfield role, but has since relished the opportunity to play further up the pitch.
\nIt is in this role as an attacking midfielder that he has been so good in the last three matches, and he put in another impressive showing with his brace in midweek.
\nAny hopes of success in the second leg could rely on giving the 29-year-old the attacking freedom he relishes so much, which gives them another option in the final third with his driving runs into the box.
\nUnited will also be boosted by the fact that Christian Eriksen could be back to full match fitness by the time they travel to Spain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London Manchester United have already proven they have what it takes to beat Sevilla. Somehow, they didn\u2019t manage to see it through. Erik ten Hag\u2019s side should head into next week\u2019s second leg with a comfortable lead to reflect their overall dominance on Thursday night. Instead, they enter it even, having thrown away a two-goal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-326210","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n