Paul Scholes says Erik ten Hag’s second-half substitutions against Sevilla “weakened” Manchester United, allowing the visitors steal a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.
While leading 2-0, Ten Hag took off Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Martial for Anthony Elanga, Christian Eriksen and Wout Weghorst just after the hour mark before swapping Facundo Pellistri for Antony three minutes before Sevilla pulled one back.
That effort deflected off Tyrell Malacia, onto David de Gea and into the net before a cruel ricochet off Harry Maguire - on for Raphael Varane, who looked to have picked up a first-half knock - saw Sevilla equalise from a Youssef En Nesyri header in stoppage time.
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And with all five substitutions used, United were dealt a hammer blow when Lisandro Martinez picked up a nasty-looking foot injury that saw him stretchered down the tunnel. It left United down to ten men when Sevilla found their equaliser.
Scholes says the replacements made earlier in the second half contributed to the shock draw, branding the performance after half time as a “complete disaster”.
He told 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.
"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.”
Scholes added: “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.”
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