Paul Scholes on the mistakes of David De Gea and Harry Maguire
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Manchester United was eliminated from the Europa League after losing 3:0 to Sevilla. Although the team from Old Trafford had a 2:0 home advantage and initiative throughout the match, they showed that they still have a lot of work to do mentally if they want to be competitors for big trophies.
The legend of United, Paul Scholes, emphasized what was the main problem of this team: “I'd say that the tie should have been done after the first half of the first leg.
If you look at the two games, the two own goals they gave away in the first leg and the two calamitous goals tonight, it's been an absolute disaster of a quarter-final.
We always mention the history of this club; I still feel Manchester United are a better team than Sevilla, but tonight they were outfought and outplayed, lacked the ability to take the ball and were sloppy.
They lacked aggression in their own play.
You turn to experienced players on nights like this to try and get some leadership from them. (Lisandro) Martinez missing tonight was a big miss, as was (Raphael) Varane, but you still expected those two (Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire) to come in with great experience to be good enough.
Tonight, they weren't and it's made Ten Hag make his mind up on a few of these players.
”- Scholes said, as quoted by eurosport.com
Paul Scholes on David Gea's mistake
Scholes also spoke about David De Gea, who made a big mistake after passing the ball to Harry Maguire, after which the Englishman made a wrong pass.
This resulted in Sevilla's goal for 1:0. Scholes believes that Maguire and De Gea made a big mistake. “David de Gea has been a fantastic goalkeeper, but he's not a fantastic footballer,” he added. “It's not a bad pass and I know Harry Maguire wanted it, but you have to read the situation and what's going on in the stadium.
I don't know why he wants the ball.
I'd say there's one centre-half in world football who is good at receiving the ball with his back to play. They're just uncomfortable.
Regardless of the manager wanting you to play, just read the situation.
Read the atmosphere of what's going on. It's not a place for that. They fell into the trap of playing those passes, because Sevilla were so aggressive in getting to the ball”.