Man Utd duo warned ‘they will suffer’ at Sevilla as Ten Hag’s men ‘don’t know what awaits them’
Man Utd’s players have been warned that they will be made to “suffer” when they face Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
The Red Devils were initially in control of their last-eight tie against the La Liga outfit.
An early brace from Marcel Sabitzer had the hosts 2-0 up at Old Trafford in the first leg. But late own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire brought the tie level heading into Thursday night’s second leg at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
Sevilla are specialists in the Europa League as they have won the competition six times since 2006.
Man Utd will no doubt be in for a tough game on Thursday and current Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic thinks the English outfit “don’t know what awaits them”.
“These people don’t know what awaits them on Thursday. It is a team with a lot of experience and many millions, but United does not know what Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is like packed,” Rakitic told AS.
“I know from when I was at Barcelona that players from other teams sing the Sevilla anthem on the pitch.
“It is unique. What our fans have created is very impressive.”
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Rakitic went on to claim Man Utd are “going to have to suffer” if they are going to advance in the competition. He thinks Casemiro and David De Gea will know that a game at Sevilla is “something else”.
“De Gea or Casemiro, who have played here, will surely explain to them that this is something else. You get anywhere and they say that this is Sevilla’s competition,” Rakitic added.
“They are going to have to suffer, I cannot guarantee that we will qualify but we are going to leave everything on the field.
“We are talking about one of the most important teams in Europe and with significant economic potential. There are few teams that can take away a Real Madrid starter, Casemiro, that speaks of the strength and potential of Manchester United.”
Sevilla head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar meanwhile is aware that Thursday night’s clash will not be “an easy game”.
“If I have to be honest, it’s not an easy game tomorrow,” Mendilibar said.
“It’s going to be a tough game. For me, we are tied 50-50. It’s true that the fans will help us but on the pitch, it’s going to be 11 v 11 players.
“They played so many times in this competition, quarter-finals, so seriously I don’t think it’s going to be an easy game and that’s what the players are thinking now.”
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