Marcus Rashford has returned to training for Manchester United before Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg in Sevilla with Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag saying his side must “use emotion as a tool” in that match.
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The first leg ended up 2-2 after United conceded two late goals at Old Trafford with a return game in Spain.
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Erik ten Hag before the game:
“The timing of emotions is important in big games – we must focus on the best game you can as a team and individual,” Ten Hag said.
“Defensively we are good, we have the clean sheets in the Premier League so our organisation all over the pitch is good and attacking we should have scored more goals over the season,” said the Dutch boss.
“I am confident, especially now we have all the players on board, we score every game.”
“We played over 60 minutes quite well and the last 30 minutes we became passive – it is not acceptable, we know that,” said Ten Hag.
“When you only play a game for 60 minutes you get punished.”
United went 2-0 up at Old Trafford before Sevilla staged a late comeback as Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire scored own goals.
Sevilla has won the trophy a record six times.
But ten Hag said he is “confident” his side can get back on track on Thursday with a victory in Spain to progress to the semi-finals.
Rashford, Shaw, Sabitzer & Malacia are back in training to boost the Ten Hag squad
Meanwhile, United’s top scorer this season Marcus Rashford could return from a groin injury for the return leg in Seville.
Sevilla boss Jose Luis Mendilibar had to comment on Rashford saying is “one of the best players” around but his side “won’t change our mentality” whether he plays or not.
Ten Hag said on Wednesday Rashford has trained once with the team but has not yet decided whether he will feature in the match or not.
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Rashford, 25, has not played since he sustained a groin injury during United’s home Premier League win against Everton on 8 April.
United had said the England striker, who has scored 31 goals this season, would “miss a few games”.
Luke Shaw, Marcel Sabitzer and Tyrell Malacia also trained at Carrington.
Rashford was unavailable for the first leg against Sevilla at Old Trafford, which United drew 2-2, as well as Sunday’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest.
Sabitzer, who scored twice against Sevilla, was withdrawn from the starting line-up at the City Ground after picking up an injury in the warm-up, while Malacia also missed the trip with a knee problem.
Shaw, meanwhile, has not played since he was substituted in United’s 1-0 win at home against Brentford on 5 April.
However, the England defender could provide much-needed cover at centre-back, with Lisandro Martinez ruled out for the season and Raphael Varane also picking up an injury against Forest.
Bruno Fernandes is also out of the Sevilla trip, with the Portugal midfielder serving a one-match suspension.
Sevilla manager Jose Luis Mendilibar said:
“Well, Rashford is one of the best players nowadays. We have to think about ourselves, respecting the opposite team but we don’t have to think about particular players.
“If Rashford plays, it’s because he’s ready. If he’s not, another top player will play there.”
“If I have to be honest, it’s not an easy game,” said Mendilibar about Thursday’s match at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
“It’s going to be a tough game. For me, we are tied 50-50. It’s true that the fans will help us but on the pitch, it’s going to be 11 versus 11 players.”
Sevilla were second-best for most of the match in Manchester following Marcel Sabitzer’s first-half double.
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But after two united blunders and a serious injury to defender Lisandro Martinez the Spanish side got back on level terms.
The winners will play Juventus or Sporting Lisbon in a two-legged semi-final on 11 and 18 May. Juventus lead 1-0 in the first leg in Italy.
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After Thursday’s Europa League game, Manchester United take on Brighton at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday and face a key Premier League clash at Tottenham on 27 April.
