If Manchester United find themselves in the position of needing to respond to a dramatic setback, Christian Eriksen feels an apt figure to turn to. In the last two years, he has diced with tragedy but may end the season with the triumph of a treble. In the last three months, there was the fear his season might be over after a shocking challenge by Andy Carroll. But he has a propensity to stage comebacks, often sooner than anticipated. They can go better than most expect.
It is a habit that could come in handy for United in Seville. They were 2-0 up and cruising when Eriksen entered the fray at Old Trafford last week. Half an hour later, they had lost Lisandro Martinez for the season – Raphael Varane, who had gone off earlier, was then ruled out for several weeks – and conceded two goals which to add to the sense that events had taken on a life of their own, were both own goals. It might not quite make Sevilla, the six-time champions, favourites against a depleted United team at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan but a tie is suddenly in the balance.
