Erik ten Hag has revealed he brought Bruno Fernandes off against Sevilla after the referee warned him the midfielder was close to receiving a red card.
Manchester United endured a frustrating night at Old Trafford, despite taking a two-goal lead in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie through an early brace from Marcel Sabitzer.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both picked up injuries and were forced off, while late own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire allowed Sevilla to take a 2-2 draw into next week’s return fixture in Spain.
There was some surprise at the substitutions made by Ten Hag during the match, with Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Martial brought off after an hour when United were in complete control of the match.
Martial was making his first start for three months and so was always likely to be eased back into the action, but this was the earliest Fernandes has been substituted since October.
The Portuguese star had been booked in the first-half, for a very harsh handball decision, and he will miss the second leg with suspension as a result. Ten Hag explained the decision to bring him off, and later Antony who increasingly clashed with full-back Marcos Acuna, was one he had little choice but to make.
“Bruno was throwing the ball away, the next he was off,” Ten Hag said of his conversation with the referee.
“He saved him because Sevilla did the same in the first-half, and a player from Sevilla got booked for it.
“Antony he sorted it out, but don’t come in such circumstances. Everything is going our way, 2-0 up and we’re playing a good game. Don’t go into individual battles with your opponent.
“It’s not necessary. You’re heating up the opponent and there’s a risk to get sent off. I don’t want to take the risk.”
