Erik ten Hag (file photo)
‘I don’t know the team in detail but for me the most important is football and I don’t look forward to Seville. First, we have the international break and then three Premier League games so there is much time to focus on that so definitely so all the opponents are coming to this stage of the Europa League they are strong and you have to play your best football if you want to go through’
By Valentine Amanze
Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, has told his players to expect a tough a challenge from Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals after getting the better of their city rivals Real Betis in the previous round.
He gave the advice to avoid complacency that could arise after their win against Real Betis on Thursday.
Manchester United newsletter had reported on Friday that the club was serious about the pairing, while gouting Erik ten Hag.
Hag said: “Back to Sevilla and as you say a very good record, we have to be aware of it.
Also read: Europa League: Manchester United fortify squad with Sabitzer, two others
“It is going to be tough, they are very experienced in the Europa League, won it so many times.
“I don’t know the team in detail but for me the most important is football and I don’t look forward to Seville. First, we have the international break and then three Premier League games so there is much time to focus on that so definitely so all the opponents are coming to this stage of the Europa League they are strong and you have to play your best football if you want to go through.”
Manchester United knocked Real Betis out of the Europa League on Thursday.
United will return to Seville against perennial winners Sevilla, the for the second round in a row, having beaten Real Betis 5-1 on aggregate in the last-16, with Marcus Rashford scoring the only goal of the game in the Benito Villamarin Stadium in Thursday’s second leg.
Sevilla, which had won the competition six times, beat Fenerbahce to reach the quarter-finals and set up a fixture with United, with the first leg to be played at Old Trafford on April 13 and the return at the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan on April 20.
The two clubs have played three times since 2018, with Sevilla winning in the Champions League in 2017/18 and then in the Europa League semi-final in the summer of 2020, according to Manchester United newsletter. But they are only 13th in La Liga this season under Jorge Sampaoli.
United have lost to Spanish opposition in their last five European campaigns.
The winner of the quarter-final will play Juventus or Sporting CP.
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