No, it most certainly wasn’t vintage Manchester United in Europe. Sevilla dominated, Sevilla should have won. There were precious few chances and no away goal. They are vulnerable at Old Trafford in the return; a 1-1 draw could see them out.
And yet, they soaked it up, came away with a draw, and will fancy their chances at home. This was a good night for United, in many ways. A clean sheet, the beginning of the rehabilitation of Paul Pogba, who came on as a 17th minute substitute and improved the team, another furiously energetic display from Alexis Sanchez.
This was never going to be the sort of game that the English team wins by four or five away goals. Sevilla are much better than that. These teams have won the last four Europa League finals, and Sevilla have three of them. They know what they are about at the European knockout stages.
David de Gea was at his brilliant best as Manchester United fought out a 0-0 draw at Sevilla in the Champions League
Sevilla were unlucky to not take the lead before half-time with Steven Nzonzi being denied here by De Gea (centre)
De Gea was at it again just moments later to deny Sevilla striker Luis Muriel with this stunning save
The other angle shows what a fantastic save it was indeed by De Gea with Muriel unmarked in the United penalty area
Muriel watches on as his bullet header arrowed towards De Gea – who was already preparing to react to the shot
The 27-year-old managed to stop it with a brilliant right hand – much to the relief of the English outfit
The Red Devils No 1 watches on as his save flies over the crossbar to the astonishment of everyone inside the stadium
Manchester United are comparative novices these days. They have won just one of their last six Champions League knockout games and last visited this stage of the tournament when David Moyes was in charge. Louis van Gaal couldn’t get them here, Moyes didn’t get a second chance, this is Jose Mourinho’s first.
He had a plan, no doubt of that, soaking up Sevilla’s pressure, before introducing the pace of Marcus Rashford with 15 minutes to go and Anthony Martial soon after.
The problem was, by then, Sevilla had been allowed to dominate for too long. United couldn’t get into the game. So it fell to a well-marshalled defence and the outstanding De Gea to see them out of here safely. This he did, aided by some wanton finishing from Sevilla.
Pablo Sarabia headed over from close range after 74 minutes, Clement Lenglet should have done more with another header in the 64th minute, Joaquin Correa had several breakthroughs on the left without providing an adequate finish and French referee Clement Turpin rose above a late moment of deviousness from Jesus Navas, trying to win a penalty against Pogba.
So it was a disappointing display from United, but certainly no disaster. Mourinho, of all people, knows the value of nights like this. He just can’t afford another one like it when they meet again next month. Not if he is serious about going all the way.
It was former Manchester United midfielder Ray Wilkins who said before the game that Sevilla were a bottom six Premier League team. How much he has seen of Sevilla, or how much respect he has for Brighton, who he reckons would be above them, cannot be gauged but he might not be fully across Spanish football if he thinks Sevilla are inferior. This was hard, hard work for Manchester United.
Sevilla had most of the ball and, by the end of the first half, the best of the chances, too. David de Gea was, once again, magnificent in a way Thibaut Courtois was not required to be for Chelsea against Barcelona on Tuesday. Sevilla do not play Barcelona’s possession football but like any good La Liga side they are lively and inventive, impressive on the counter-attack and cavalier in committing men forward. Their coach Vincenzo Montella is Italian, but this was anything but cagey football. He is plainly a quick learner and has adapted to what Spain requires of its elite teams.
It is a sign of the times that three of the four full-backs on show on Wednesday night, including both of Manchester United’s, were once flying wingers. Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Jesus Navas have all been reinvented as the modern game changes. Navas, in particular, was a marauding presence, although the booking Alexis Sanchez earned for felling him on the run was soft.
Sevilla also have a conventional wide presence in Joaquin Correa and much of their best work comes through him. He set the template for Sevilla’s attacks after just four minutes by feeding the ball in to striker Luis Muriel after four minutes, forcing a strong one-handed save from De Gea, the first of many important interventions.
Ever Banega tried his luck from 30 yards soon after – who told Sevilla that United’s goalkeeper was vulnerable – and Navas had another go on 15 minutes, drifting inside and striking a low effort just wide. Indeed, while De Gea was being peppered, it took Manchester United 25 minutes to even have a shot – and what a disappointment when they did. Sanchez, very energetic, very quick to go to ground, very trying on the patience of the locals, played the most beautiful chip that picked out Romelu Lukaku in more space than any striker should be given in the box. He opted to take it first time, when maybe he could have been patient, and skied it horribly over the bar. Aside from a Scott McTominay shot on 38 minutes that goalkeeper Sergio Rico parried – constituting United’s only shot on target in the first-half – that was the best of it from United. Sevilla, meanwhile, were far from done.
Valencia was having more aggravation with Correa than Mike Pence, and in the 28th minute he cut inside on the left but disappointed with his shot, which De Gea smothered comfortably. Soon after, same again, Correa inside once more, this time going for accuracy rather than power, and an attempted side-foot finish which De Gea was equal to as his defenders struggled to recover.
Yet in time added on, Sevilla forged the best two chances of the half. A corner was only half cleared and centre half Gabriel Mercado tried an unlikely overhead kick that Steven Nzonzi tried to help on its way to goal, De Gea responding magnificently to tip his header over the bar. Again the corner wasn’t adequately dispatched to safety, allowing Nzonzi to recycle the ball, finding Muriel who had managed to lose his marker, and everybody else’s, and was in clear space, certain to score. What a save De Gea produced to deal with that. If there is a better goalkeeper in the world right now, Ray Wilkins probably hasn’t heard of him, and neither have the rest of us.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho (right) embraces Sevilla counterpart Vincenzo Montella before the game
All eyes were on Paul Pogba before the match as United’s club-record £89million signing started on the bench
Exciting prospect Scott McTominay (left) was chosen to start in central midfield ahead of Pogba by Mourinho
However, Pogba didn’t have to wait long to get involved as he replaced Ander Herrera after just 17 minutes
The Spaniard appeared to pull his left hamstring after making a dart inside the Sevilla penalty area
Mourinho gives Pogba some final instructions before he comes on to the pitch for the Champions League last-16 encounter
The France international was soon in the thick of the action – battling Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega for the ball
The visitors big chance in the first half fell to Romelu Lukaku after being played through by Alexis Sanchez
Unfortunately for United, the Belgian striker could only blaze a volley over the crossbar with only the goalkeeper to beat
Sanchez was in the wars during the first half – as he made his Champions League debut for United since leaving Arsenal
Sevilla attacker Joaquin Correa (right) was proving a threat to United’s backline during the first half on Wednesday night
The home supporters whipped up a brilliant atmosphere at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium
United’s travelling away supporters were in fine voice too as Mourinho’s side went in search of a crucial away goal