Erik ten Hag was left to regret injury problems as Manchester United crashed late against Sevilla in the Europa League with Marcel Sabitzer scoring “two stupid goals” and conceding.
Sabitzer’s brace in the first half appeared to put United in complete control of the first leg of Thursday’s quarter-final, with hosts Ten Hag dominating at Old Trafford.
However, Tyrell Malasia’s own goal with six minutes left gave Sevilla hope before Harry Maguire saved the shot into his own net in the 92nd minute.
Ten Hag insisted that United’s 2–2 draw was due to bad luck, as opposed to his substitutes collapsing due to late pressure.
The United manager told BT Sport: “I think we had a game in hand, we were 2-0 up and we should have scored three or four goals. The game was completely up to us.
“A few bad moments with injuries. Raphael Varane at half-time, Anthony Martial because it was his first start, Anthony and Bruno Fernandes because they had a yellow card.
“Then we lose control at a bad moment, then another bad moment with Lisandro. [Martinez] get hurt when we go down to 10.
“We conceded two own goals, it’s bad luck. We must learn, we must kill the game, but everything is open for the next game.
“I know that with these players we can do better in the last part of the game, we should have been more focused and could capitalize on our counter-attacking capabilities, but we didn’t.
“We were a bit unlucky on defense, two own goals and rebounds, it’s not a good night.”
We are even at the end of the first match.#MUFC || #UEL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 13, 2023
As a result of the late drama, United became the second English side to score two own goals in the same match in a major European competition, after Chelsea against Ajax Ten Hag in November 2019.
It was also the first time that United failed to win a match in a major European competition when they had a two-goal lead, following a 3–3 draw with Basel in September 2011.
Sabitzer was never able to find an explanation for the chaotic ending after United abandoned their seemingly unassailable position.
“I’m having trouble finding the right words, like in a rollercoaster game,” a United player on loan told BT Sport.
“We had a good first half, then we had good moments and we had to finish the game. In the end it’s a draw and it’s not what we wanted so we have to go to Seville and do it there.
“Unfortunately, we conceded easy goals, we can’t concede such goals, and now we are very disappointed.
“In such a competition, you have to be focused until the end, when you have a percentage less, you can give up the game.
“I think the last minutes were a bit strange, one player lost and we had to get the result.
“But like I said, two stupid goals is not what we wanted. Very upset. You can’t give in like that and not focus until the end when you’re 2-0 at home, you have to do it.”
2. Manchester United are only the second English team to score two own goals in the same game in a major European competition, after Chelsea against Ajax Erik ten Hag in November 2019. pic.twitter.com/vehUtBkwxs
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 13, 2023
United are looking to fight back in the second leg at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuan stadium, although the Red Devils will have to wait nervously for the fitness of key centre-back pairing Varane and Martinez.
Ten Hag suggested that Varane aggravated the injury that kept him sidelined after the March training break, while the Dutchman was concerned that Martinez had fallen despite not challenging another player.
“Lycha is out after the moment when there was no opponent, it doesn’t look good, so we need to wait,” Ten Hag added.
“It’s the same with Rafa, an injury he’s been complaining about for the last few weeks, so we’ll have to see how things are now.”