SEVILLA 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 0
United’s first Champions League knockout stage game since David Moyes’ ill fated season in charge of the Reds saw all eyes on one particular United player – but it wasn’t Paul Pogba – while the home side caught the eye with a staggering 25 shots on goal (with eight on target) to United’s six (with just one on target) as the Reds played out a goalless game in Spain for the fifth time in the last seven.
All eyes might have been on Pogba, especially after his exile from the starting line-up lated just 17 minutes at Sevilla, but David De Gea will have drawn renewed interest from Real Madrid for his performance against Sevilla, helping Manchester United keep a clean sheet against their hosts with eight crucial saves against a Sevilla side who pressed the Reds from the start.
After stunning winning performances in the Champions League by Manchester City and Liverpool plus thrilling draws for Spurs and Chelsea, United’s performance in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville was indicative of a Reds side playing once again with the handbrake on as the Reds scraped a draw with their hosts despite having the services of Pogba in midfield for most of the game.
Signs of an emerging rift between Pogba and United boss Jose Mourinho were brought to a head after an insipid performance against Spurs at the end of January.
Whether it was the arrival of Alexis Sanchez on exorbitant wages, or a playing him out of his favoured position (reportedly left side of a midfield trio) or a perceived position indiscipline in a two-man midfield which annoyed the Portuguese, the spat could not have come at a worst time as United’s poor run only handed cross town rivals Manchester City a virtually unassailable 15 point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Pogba was brought back into the fray from the subs bench the week after against Huddersfield Town but was hauled off in the second half in the defeat at Newcastle, and completely omitted due to illness for United’s FA Cup win at Town.
It was thought the Frenchman would return for the Sevilla game but instead he started on the bench in the European game for the first time since April 10, 2014.
With Pogba missing his second game in a row, Mourinho made just three changes to the side that beat Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup – David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, and Ander Herrera came into the side while Sergio Romero, Luke Shaw, and Michael Carrick made way.
Luis Muriel forced David DeGea into an early save as Sevilla came at United from the start with a high pressing game. Jesus Navas, the ex-Man City player, shot wide as United struggled to contain their hosts.
Ander Herrera soon pulled up with a left hamstring injury and just 17 minutes into the game Pogba was handed the opportunity to impress by replacing the limping Spaniard – and although United did improve with the Frenchman in the side their hosts had several chances to open the scoring before half time.
Joaquin Correa was denied by Chris Smalling and De Gea as while Sanchez was booked for pulling back Navas and Steven N’Zonzi’s overhead kick was retrieved by De Gea.
And the Spaniard turned Luis Muriel’s close range header from Navas’ cross behind for a corner to prevent a certain goal on the stroke of half time – a move worthy of the handshakes he received from his opponents as United struggled under the Sevilla onslaught.
Franco Vazquez curled a shot over the bar and Muriel dragged a shot wide while Clement Lenglet’s header was saved by De Gea and Correa fired wide under pressure.
United remained ineffectual against Sevilla, with Lukaku ploughing a lonely furrow up front – starved of service – while Sevilla continued to put chances in, Ever Banega saw his free kick saved by De Gea while Pablo Serabia headed over from close range.
United finally stirred from their slumber. McTominay had earlier tested Sergio Rico with a shot while Romelu Lukaku was feeding on scraps all night until he was joined by Anthony Martial who replaced Sanchez.
Muriel tested De Gea once again and Lukaku had the ball in the net but it was disallowed for a clear handball seven minutes from time to control the ball before smashing it through Rico’s legs.
And a late penalty shout was waved away by the referee as Navas went down in the area with contact from Pogba while United went on to miss a golden opportunity themselves with substitute Marcus Rashford dragging a shot wide at the other end.
Far from a bus parking mission, United simply looked ponderous and poor on the night with little flair and without De Gea, who made eight saves on the night, could have been humiliated in Seville.