Sevilla and Manchester United will meet tonight in the Europa League semi-finals • Both coaches have rabbits in their hats • The Spanish side are hoping to postpone parting ways with Aber Banga, who is dreaming of winning the title before moving to Saudi Arabia
Banga. Will receive a free hand from Lofty
Photo:
AFP
While everyone is taking a breath away from the marvelous Champions League quarter-final, some space has been freed up for the two Europa League semi-final stage matches, which will bring Sevilla to Manchester United tonight (22:00) and tomorrow Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk.
The first semi-final is the most intriguing of the two. On the one hand the Spanish team that holds the record for wins in the Europa League (including the period called the UEFA Cup), five in total, and on the other hand the English team, which wants to continue the momentum with which it finished the current season.
United have one win in the Europa League (2017), which came after a winning streak of Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016), and now manager Ola Gunnar Solskjaer is breaking his head over how to stop his opponent. "I hope they come more tired than us," said the Norwegian, who, like others, was impressed by the ability and tenacity of Yulan Lofti's players.
United did not make the list in the quarter-finals, where they needed a penalty in extra time to oust FC Copenhagen, but alongside that they have shown strong character in the last two months, which should help in the face of Sevilla's uncompromising style of play. It seems that Nemanja Matic's expected placement in the squad is the kind of rabbit that Solskjaer believes will disrupt the opponent's game.
Solshiar. Wants to disrupt the game for Sevilla // Photo: AFP
Luftaghi, on the other hand, is expected to remain true to his offensive path. He will rely mainly on two Argentines: Lucas Occampus, who scored the winning goal in the quarter-final against Wolves and is in excellent shape, and Aver Banga, whose every game may be his last in the Sevilla uniform.
Banga, an elegant game manager, announced as early as January that at the end of the season he is leaving for the Saudi league, where he signed for Al Shabab. Due to the Corona crisis, the Saudis allowed him to play with Sevilla in the Europa League final and join them late, and the Argentine midfielder wants to part ways with Spain with an international title.
Lofty will give him as usual a free hand on the pitch, hoping to get past the English hurdle and advance to the final on Friday, at the end of which Sevilla might lift their sixth trophy.