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Remembering Mourinho’s Man United XI that Sevilla knocked out of the 2018 UCL

Manchester United travel to face Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals this week, with the tie evenly poised after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in the first leg.

United have work to do in Seville after squandering a two-goal lead in the first meeting and will be well aware of the threat the Spaniards pose, with José Luis Mendilibar’s side record six-time winners of this competition.

It is the second European tie between the teams, following a Champions League last-16 clash in 2018. Sevilla progressed through to the last eight after an upset win in Manchester in the second leg, as Jose Mourinho’s men crashed out.

We remember the Manchester United XI that Sevilla knocked out of the Champions League in 2018.

Goalkeeper: David de Gea

One of just two survivors from that disappointment five years ago, De Gea has spent more than a decade as the first-choice goalkeeper at Old Trafford.

De Gea was man-of-the-match after a goalless first leg in Spain, but shouldered some of the blame for the Red Devils’ exit in the return. He should have done better on Wissam Ben Yedder’s second goal, as the goalkeeper flapped at the forward’s back-post header.

The 32-year-old has been a key figure for Erik ten Hag this season despite reservations over his distribution and comfortability in possession. Talks are ongoing over a new deal for De Gea, whose contract runs out at the end of the season. He is now ninth on the club’s list of all-time appearances.

Right-back: Antonio Valencia

Antonio Valencia was another fine servant for Manchester United and spent ten seasons with the club after arriving from Wigan Athletic. Initially signed as a right-winger, he won the club’s Player of the Season accolade in 2011/12 from an advanced position before converting to a right-back during his latter seasons at the club.

The Ecuadorian captained the side in Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick’s absence – including during the 2017 Europa League final win over Ajax – and took on the armband permanently during his final season at Old Trafford in 2018/19.

He made 339 appearances for the Red Devils, in which he won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.

Centre-back: Eric Bailly

Eric Bailly remains a Manchester United player, but is currently out on loan at Marseille after struggling for fitness, form and favour at Old Trafford.

The Ivorian arrived in a £30m deal from Villarreal in 2016 and impressed during his debut season as the club won a Europa League and League Cup double. However, he has failed to start more than 11 league fixtures in any of the six seasons since.

His fortunes have failed to improve this season and he was hit with a SEVEN-game ban in France for a high challenge which hospitalised an opponent. Marseille are not expected to make the move permanent, leaving the 29-year-old facing an uncertain future this summer.

Centre-back: Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling’s move to Manchester United capped a remarkable rise for the defender, who rose from non-league Maidstone United to Old Trafford, via Fulham, in less than two seasons.

Smalling spent nine seasons with the Red Devils and made 323 appearances for the club, in which he won two league titles, three domestic cups, the Europa League and Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year in 2015/16.

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He departed for Roma after falling out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and has since thrived in Serie A. The centre-back formed part of the team that won the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League last season, in which he was named in the Team of the Tournament. At 33, he remains a key figure for the Italians under the management of ex-United boss Mourinho.

Left-back: Ashley Young

Ashley Young is the second winger-to-full-back convert in this side, having dropped into a more defensive role during his time at Manchester United.

Young was one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents upon his arrival at the Red Devils, having won the PFA Young Player of the Year during his time at Aston Villa before a £17m move to Old Trafford.

He was appointed club captain in 2019, before departing for Inter Milan where he won the 2020/21 Serie A title under Antonio Conte. Young returned to the Premier League with former side Aston Villa last summer and, despite approaching his 38th birthday, is currently part of Unai Emery’s in-form side pushing for Europe.

Midfield: Nemanja Matic

Jose Mourinho sanctioned a deal to sign Nemanja Matic from Chelsea ahead of the 2017/18 season, as the United boss sought a reunion with the Serbian enforcer.

Matic won two Premier League titles during his time in west London, but failed to win a major trophy across his five seasons at Manchester United. Mourinho signed the midfielder for a third time when agreeing a deal to take Matic to Roma on a free transfer last summer.

Midfield: Marouane Fellaini

Marouane Fellaini, perhaps unfairly, became the symbol of Manchester United’s decline in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. The midfielder reunited with David Moyes at the club and endured a difficult debut season as the ex-Everton manager was sacked at Old Trafford.

Fellaini spent a further five seasons with the Red Devils under a number of different managers and while failing to consistently convince, provided a number of important contributions including semi-final goals in both competitions as United won the Europa League and League Cup in 2016/17.

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Fellaini was subbed during the loss to Sevilla after an ineffective performance, with Paul Pogba brought on as his replacement.

He signed for Shandong Luneng in January 2019 and remains with the Chinese side.

Midfield: Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard came through the academy system at Manchester United and after developing out on loan broke into the side in 2015/16.

The midfielder scored a number of vital goals for the Red Devils, including Wembley goals in the FA Cup and League Cup finals and another in the Community Shield. His finest season came in 2017/18 as Lingard scored 13 goals in all competitions, but he fell out of favour during the 2020/21 campaign.

Lingard left on a free transfer last summer and signed for newly-promoted Nottingham Forest. He has struggled to make an impact at the City Ground however, and has failed to score in 17 league appearances this season.

Right-wing: Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford remains part of the current set-up under Erik ten Hag and has found career-best form under the new manager this season.

Rashford burst onto the scene with a brace on his debut for Manchester United as a teenager and has since scored 121 goals in 350 appearances for the club. After a difficult spell in which he struggled for form and fitness, the 25-year-old has scored 28 goals in all competitions this season, a run of form which has seen him re-emerge as one of the Premier League’s most exciting attackers.

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His absence will be felt when United take on Sevilla this week, with the club’s leading scorer sidelined with a groin issue.

Left-wing: Alexis Sanchez

Excitement was high when Manchester United secured the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, as the Red Devils capitalised on his contract situation to sign one of the Premier League’s leading names.

Sanchez had starred in north London to score 80 goals in 166 appearances for the Gunners, but struggled to make an impact during a dreadful time at Old Trafford. The Chilean, who arrived just weeks before the defeat to Sevilla, scored just three league goals in 18 months at the club.

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His club-record wages and lack of impact made Sanchez one of the most disappointing transfer dealings of all time.

Forward: Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku was the marquee arrival at Manchester United during the 2017/18 season, after the club completed the £75m signing of the forward from Everton.

Lukaku scored 28 goals in all competitions during an impressive first season with the Red Devils, including their response in the 2-1 defeat to Sevilla. The Belgian was one of the few players to give a good account of themselves in the loss, but fell out of favour during his second campaign at the club.

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Despite a record of 42 goals in 98 games in all competitions, Lukaku was sold to Inter Milan for £73m after just two seasons, as United sought improved flexibility in the forward line.

Read – Iconic Performances: Roy Keane’s superhuman display v Juventus

Read Also – Midfield Magicians: The under-rated metronome, Michael Carrick

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