Manchester United experienced a catastrophic final 10 minutes of their first-leg quarter-final tie against Sevilla at Old Trafford, having dominated proceedings throughout before a highly turbulent finale.
Marcel Sabitzer’s two goals in the opening 20 minutes handed United a stranglehold of the tie and it looked like they were going to cruise to victory.
Erik ten Hag’s men continued to control the game and spurned several chances to increase their advantage – missed chances they would come to regret as a bizarre end to the game ensured all is left to play for in Seville next week.
Tyrell Malacia’s own-goal gave Sevilla hope and just seconds later, Lisandro Martinez would be stretchered off with what looked to be a nasty-looking Achilles injury.
Ten Hag had already made all five of his substitutions by that point, meaning United would have to finish the game with 10 men as Sevilla chased an equaliser. And an equaliser is what they got when a poorly timed header deflected off Harry Maguire and past David de Gea.
Speaking after the game, Ten Hag delivered his verdict on the turbulent encounter at Old Trafford and provided a rather pessimistic update on Martinez’s fitness.
“I think we had the game in hand. We were 2-0 up and should have scored three or four. We had some unlucky moments with injuries and had to make some subs, then we lose control and Lisandro Martinez and we are down to 10,” Ten Hag told BT Sport, via the Independent.
“We actually conceded two own goals, I say ‘bad luck’ and we have to deal with it. We have to learn and kill the game, but everything is open for the next game.
“The first half was very good, we had a lot of belief, but we lost the rhythm of the game because of the injuries.
“We have seen when ‘Licha’ Martinez drops out and there was no opponent involved, so it doesn’t look that great.
“We have to wait. The same with Rapha (Varane), I didn’t speak to him after the game but it is an injury he has complained (of) over the last couple of weeks so we have to see how it is now.”
Martinez has been one of the Premier League’s outstanding performers this season and undeniably one of United’s most consistent players.
It looked like a bad one for Martinez and supporters are now fearing the worst, with a gruelling final six weeks of the season to come.
To add to the misery, Raphael Varane was also withdrawn from the game with an apparent injury after he struggled at the end of the first half. Losing half of your first-choice centre-back pairing in the run-in is bad enough but losing both players would be completely catastrophic.
Thought the 3 subs came too early and 2 of the subs are really not good enough for united Bruno should have played the whole gsme seeing as he will miss the second leg Ten Hsg over thinked the second half thought we were going to win the game poor decision !