Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes believes it was Erik Ten Hag's substitutions that saw his old club give up a two-goal lead to draw last night against Sevilla.
Manchester United were cruising their way to victory in last night's Europa League game. Leading 2-0 at half time at Old Trafford, the home side had a very poor second half and allowed the Spanish team to mount a comeback that saw the game end 2-2.
During the interval, Raphael Varane was replaced by Harry Maguire due to injury, meaning the United boss had already used one of his five changes. Erik Ten Hag would then make a surprising triple substitution at the 62nd minute. He took off Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho to bring on Christian Eriksen, Wout Weghorst and Anthony Elanga.
Later in the game, he would bring on Facundo Pellistri for Antony in the 81st minute. The score was still 2-0 at this stage, although an own goal fullback Tyrell Malacia would soon get Sevilla back into the game.
In the closing stages, Lisandro Martinez would be forced off with a serious looking injury, meaning United would end the game with ten men. Sevilla took advantage of the extra man and scored a 92nd minute equaliser thanks to an own goal from substitute Harry Maguire.
𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝟮-𝟮! 🤯🤯
En-Nesyri heads it off Harry Maguire and it goes past de Gea!
You 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 write Sevilla off in the Europa League!!#MUNSEV | #UEL pic.twitter.com/OSdeP3XSqQ— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 13, 2023
They will now travel to Spain next week with the tie very much in the balance.
Paul Scholes comments on Erik ten Hag decision
Scholes was not a happy man last night as he completely slammed the United coach. He was particularly angry about the substitutions of the Dutch coach, believing it weakened the team at a crucial point of the game and ultimately cost them the result. He said live on BT Sport:
Manchester United were very quiet in the second half, didn’t really create anything, substitutes I don’t think helped the game. It definitely weakened the team.
You can understand Martial with him being fragile but really sloppy in that second half...
The second half was a complete disaster, really. Malacia should have dealt with that first goal at the source and he didn’t, then from then on it was a really difficult night. Injuries, suspensions, then they get the second goal, it’s not a great second half.
It was a chaotic end of game for Erik Ten Hag's men. Some players will be injured and others suspended ahead of the second leg in Seville.
Bad things occur in threes, but Manchester United actually suffered a quintet of calamities in their 2-2 draw to Sevilla on Thursday. Injuries, suspension and own goals have laid waste to what looked like a promising Europa League semi-final first leg pic.twitter.com/hP5PeE5lwN
— Mutenga Grievious (@GrievousMutenga) April 14, 2023
Paul Scholes still believes Sevilla is not 'a great team' and Manchester United should be able to win next week's game and qualify for the Europa League semi finals despite all their problems:
Two two, still - look, injuries and suspensions won’t be great for next week - but I felt we saw enough to say Sevilla aren’t a great team and United should still have enough.
But I tell you what, going over there will be difficult.
It will be interesting to see how the second leg plays out.
SEE ALSO: Richard Keys Has Baffled Everyone With Delusional Frank Lampard Opinion
