Gary Neville sprung to the defence of Harry Maguire after the Manchester United captain's dreadful error gifted Sevilla the opening goal in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final.
Maguire was handed his second successive start for the Red Devils with boss Erik ten Hag facing an injury crisis in defence. But just eight minutes in Sevilla had taken the lead, with Maguire robbed in possession on the edge of his own penalty area.
The United centre-back passed the ball back to David de Gea from out wide before moving into the centre of the pitch and calling for a return pass. The Spaniard obliged but Maguire was immediately closed down by three Sevilla attackers, with Erik Lamela nicking the ball away.
Lamela touched it on to Youssef En-Nesyri who stayed cool to fire the ball past a static De Gea. That gave Sevilla a 3-2 lead on aggregate early into the second leg, with the LaLiga side having fought back from going two goals behind in last week's first leg.
But Neville pointed the finger at De Gea, rather than Maguire, for being at fault on the goal. The legendary United captain admitted the England international would come under fire for his actions in the goal, but insisted it was De Gea's fault to return the ball to his captain.
He tweeted: "Maguire will get battered but that pass from De Gea I wouldn’t like!"
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who was at fault for Sevilla's opening goal? Comment below.
Former United academy product Robbie Savage agreed with Neville and launched a passionate defence of Maguire.
"United trying to play out from the back, the pass from David de Gea. There’s three white shirts around Harry Maguire, just look. He’s in the middle of the triangle, I’m not sure he wants the ball there," he said in commentary on BT Sport.
"It’s good pressing and I tell you what, it’s a wonderful finish. Maguire can do better but why does David de Gea not put the ball out to Wan-Bissaka? The centre half is in the middle of a triangle, three players closing him down.
"Yes, it’s Maguire’s mistake, but David de Gea surely has got to play the ball to Wan-Bissaka. Very poor. Of course, Manchester United fans and the Manchester United manager would love Fernandes to be playing, he’s not and you can’t legislate for that mistake.
"It’s so poor. Maguire will get the blame but why is David de Gea passing it to him there with three white shirts hunting him down? Just put it wide out of the danger area to Wan-Bissaka, surely?"
Maguire was only starting at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán after first-choice centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane were injured in the first leg. United are looking to win their first European trophy since lifting the Europa League in 2017.
