Manchester United are out of the Champions League.
Sevilla beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, thanks to two goals from Wissam Ben Yedder. The home side were extremely cautious throughout and only had themselves to blame when they went behind.
United mustered a late fight back, and Romelu Lukaku scored, but it was too late.
Here’s how we rated the United players on the night.
David de Gea – 6
Largely untested, and for once couldn’t save his team. Had no real chance for Ben Yedder’s first goal, and was unlucky for the second.
Antonio Valencia – 5
Quiet night.
Chris Smalling – 4
He had the composure of a man holding a nuclear bomb when in possession. In fairness, Smalling knows his own limitations and was happy to play it safe when on the ball. Caught out for the first goal, unsure whether to close the ball down or stand-off, but was let down by his midfield in the build-up.
Eric Bailly – 4
Produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle in the second-half to prevent United from going behind, but couldn’t stop the first goal. Bailly didn’t get close to Ben Yedder, hesitated and saw the ball fizz past De Gea into the net.
Ashley Young – 4
Highly suspect for Sevilla’s second goal.
Marouane Fellaini – 4
Fellaini was like a traffic cone in the first-half as Sevilla’s midfield casually passed the ball around him. Lost most of his aerial duels with Steven N’Zonzi and was seemingly only in the team to win flick-ons from throw-ins. The Belgian ‘midfielder’ had United’s first shot on target, but was substituted for Paul Pogba with 30 minutes to play.
Nemanja Matic – 4
Extremely unambitious in possession, never looked for the ball from United’s defenders and was happy for De Gea to kick it long. This was most likely a directive from his manager, but Matic failed to impose himself on the game and was very passive when Sevilla’s midfield had the ball. Like the rest of United’s midfield, he was poor for both goals.
Jesse Lingard – 4
Anonymous.
Alexis Sanchez – 4
At what point will Mourinho drop Sanchez? Probably never, but this isn’t the world-class player United thought they were getting. The Chilean improved slightly after the break when he moved more central. Yet, this was the type of performance we’ve come to expect from Sanchez at United. He went down blind alleys when in possession and played like his teammates were strangers.
Marcus Rashford – 5
Rashford scored twice against Liverpool on Saturday playing wide-left. So, of course, Mourinho played him wide-right against Sevilla, and asked him to be an auxiliary full-back in the first-half. After the break, he moved to the left and looked more of a threat, but his final ball wasn’t always up to scratch, other than when he set-up United’s goal.
Romelu Lukaku – 7
The liveliest of United’s players. The Belgian striker started the game well, with his first-touch seeming surer than it usually is, and he appeared to be in confident mood. Then, as United retreated into their shell after 10-minutes, Rashford reverted to an auxiliary full-back position and Lukaku was starved of service. He created a chance for Lingard in the second-half, using his physical strength to overcome a heavy first-touch and worked hard throughout.
Lukaku appears to have put his poor form from the winter months behind him, and despite missing a big chance at the end, he didn’t let it affect him and scored seven minutes from time.
Subs
Paul Pogba – 5
Didn’t impose himself on the game, and was one of the United players caught napping for Sevilla’s second goal.
Anthony Martial & Juan Mata – Not on long enough to rate, although Mata created a chance late for Lukaku.
