Sevilla followers unfurled a banner that said Nunca te rindas - never give up. Manchester United gave up on their European campaign with a whimper.
From 2-0 up to 5-2 down across the two legs, this is a galling ejection for Erik ten Hag. Sevilla - 13th in La Liga - still have the hex over United and are now unbeaten in their five meetings.
Ten Hag, frowning with his arms folded for much of the night, cannot rue his poor game management and the own goals in the first leg or the number of injuries. United saw off the champions-elect of Spain in Barcelona and Real Betis, fifth in the ladder when vanquished 5-1 on aggregate in the previous rounds.
Also read: Two 2/10s as United embarrassed by Sevilla
Sevilla's remarkable romance with the Europa League cannot legislate for United's gutless capitulation. They started with at least five players they should jettison in the summer and if there is a lesson to be learnt from this surrender it is that there must be more outgoings than incomings.
Without Harry Maguire, United were 2-0 up in this tie. With him, they lost 5-0. Maguire contributed an own goal and an assist for Sevilla. Maguire and Victor Lindelof chest-bumped prior to kick-off. Ten Hag may want to knock Maguire and David de Gea's heads together.
De Gea's head must be clear of the generational nadir at Brentford, for Youssef En-Nesyri's opening goal was reminiscent of Mathias Jensen robbing Christian Eriksen of the ball inside his own area.
As oblivious as De Gea was to the onrushing white shirts, Maguire did not mind his surroundings or feel Erik Lamela breathing down his neck. He knew what he wanted to do with the ball before it arrived but so did Lamela. A top player is also aware of the danger.
Maguire's sympathisers shall scapegoat De Gea yet Maguire demanded the ball when surrounded by a triangle of Sevilla shirts. They had all corners covered. During a stoppage in the 28th minute, Ten Hag actually edged away from Maguire as he approached the touchline to rehydrate.
In added time of the first half, another stray Maguire pass in the Sevilla third downgraded United from attack to defence, with Sevilla denied on the counter by a sliding intervention from Diogo Dalot. Maguire was a lucky omen before this; United had won the last 11 matches he had started in. Maguire was the first red shirt down the tunnel at half-time.
Maguire is an easy fall guy but the blame is widespread. De Gea's inevitable contract renewal is one of convenience that undermines Ten Hag's ruthlessness. Billed as 'multi-functional' by his manager in the pre-match press conference, De Gea rushed out of his area to control one hoik, miscontrolled and En-Nesyri stylishly clipped the loose ball into the empty net.
De Gea is not a credible long-term custodian if United are to maximise Ten Hag's coaching potential and their willingness to tie him down beyond this season is a form of complacency associated with the Ed Woodward era.
Sevilla preyed on De Gea's other weakness - crosses. Loic Bade's contact was via his shoulder but the looping flight of the connection gave De Gea ample time to move with alacrity to claw it away. Only the ball dropped over the line.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jadon Sancho were both hooked at the interval. Anthony Martial cried off injured again before the hour. There cannot be room for any of them in the United squad next season if they are to emerge as credible championship challenges.
In a progressive campaign, United have served up some performances and results more in keeping with the cataclysmic 2021-22 season. Sevilla can be filed with Brentford, Manchester City and Liverpool - all of them away. This was so ignominious the on-loan Alex Telles was sent on by Sevilla.
Ten Hag was in such a hurry for United to respond to the early setback he was ushering Wan-Bissaka over to take a 35th-minute throw-in quicker. United were slow to everything all night.
Antony, the only starter who performed respectably, rollocked Wout Weghorst for not crossing the white line quickly enough, as he was unaware Martial had already skulked off behind the goal. Weghorst irked Antony again by shooting and not passing.
Antony was the only United forward with any gumption. Sancho played as though on borrowed time with Marcus Rashford's name on the teamsheet again and Rashford was summoned at the pause. Weghorst was instructed to warm up in the first half and it was impossible to tell if the leisurely Martial was injured or not.
Sancho hid. A pacy winger renowned for his directness at Borussia Dortmund, Sancho decelerates attacks and resembles Dimitar Berbatov. Only that was Berbatov's style and there was method to it.
United's knack for conceding early in halves continued in both against Seville. They were incapable of reorganising and Maguire and Lindelof are inadequate alternatives to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. It is not a coincidence United's downfall in the tie began with Varane's enforced removal at the pause in Manchester.
A haze of red smoke and soundtrack of whistles and firecrackers greeted United's arrival at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The throng was so overwhelming for one police horse its rider was dismounted.
As the United players and staff disembarked the coaches, Sevilla supporters aired pejorative chants. It was hardly Istanbul and a few bolshy Sevilla fans were disarmed when the United supporter they were chiding clasped their hands. His friend had informed them they had "only come to see United".
Only United gave up.
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