The Real Betis fans chanted “Sí se puede” – yes we can. No, they could not. Manchester United are not the latest team to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory in a European knockout.
Instead, United will approach Easter with the possibility of their museum requiring at least one more plinth at the end of the season. The Europa League is a competition United have no intention of participating in next term yet a second triumph would secure seeding in the Champions League group stage.
The travelling followers safely sang about Roy Keane, Jaap Stam and Andy Cole early in the second half, a sure sign they were certain the contest was over. Marcus Rashford soon made sure of that, banishing a sloppy 55 minutes with a splendid piledriver to break the deadlock.
