Erik ten Hag said Manchester United have to blame themselves for their exit from the Europa League at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Sevilla.
Sevilla knocked Manchester United out of Europa League with a 5-2 aggregate win in the quarter-final. The Red Devils had played out a 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the first leg, which took place at Old Trafford.
But Sevilla cruised a 3-0 win over Manchester United in the second leg to dump the Premier League side out of Europa League. Erik ten Hag’s men were far from their best against Sevilla and defensive mistakes cost the English side.
Speaking after the match, Erik ten Hag said Manchester United gave away an opportunity to win something and that they have to blame themselves for their elimination from Europa League.
Erik ten Hag: Manchester United have to blame themselves for Europa League elimination
“It’s clear, when you make such mistakes it’s very difficult to win a football game,” Erik ten Hag told BT Sport [via GOAL]. “Tonight we weren’t ready for the game and that cannot be. This is a great occasion and opportunity to win something and we gave it away. We have to blame ourselves.
“It’s a problem, we can’t run away from it. On Sunday we have to step up and show more character and more personality.”
Against Sevilla, Manchester United conceded their first goal of the match just eight minutes into the kick-off. Harry Maguire lost the ball just outside of the penalty box and Youssef En-Nesyri capitalized on the mistake to send Sevilla one goal up.
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Loic Bade doubled Sevilla’s lead in the 47th minute with a header from a corner delivery into the Manchester United box. A David de Gea howler gifted Sevilla with an opportunity to score their third and Youssef En-Nesyri made the most of it to establish a three-goal cushion for the Spanish side.
The defeat has ended Manchester United’s hopes of European glory this season. The Red Devils will now be aiming to win the FA Cup title and secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.
In the FA Cup, they will square off with Brighton & Hove Albion for a place in the final of the competition. In the Premier League, Erik Ten Hag and Co. currently sit third, only behind table-toppers Arsenal and defending champions and second-placed Manchester City.
