Man Utd vs Sevilla: Can Ole do what Mourinho couldn't and tame Banega?

Manchester United are on the verge of another European final but must first overcome Europa League specialists Sevilla on Sunday. An opponent they know too well after being eliminated from the Champions League round of 16 stage by the LaLiga outfit in 2017/18 under Jose Mourinho.

The Red Devils were extremely poor over the two legs against Sevilla and got exactly what they deserved. Mourinho was under fire for United's lamentable tactics but rather than shoulder the blame he instead flipped the situation on its head and pointed the finger at the club.

"I don't want to make a drama of it. That's football, it is not the end of the world," Mourinho said in the aftermarth. "I sit in this chair twice in the Champions League and knocked Manchester United out with Porto and Real Madrid so it is not something new for the club."

He didn't want to cause a stir but that is exactly what he did, in typical Mourinho fashion. So what exactly went wrong when Mourinho's United faced Sevilla two years ago?

The first leg ended 0-0 in Seville. Not the best result but certainly not the worst. It certainly could have been a lot worse, too. Sevilla had 25 shots to United's six and eight on target to United's one. David de Gea was equal to everything thrown his way by Sevilla, with Ever Banega at the heart of everything, to claim the WhoScored Man of the Match award (8.52). The United goalkeeper touched the ball more times (46) than striker Romelu Lukaku (38).

Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford were only fit enough for a place on the bench in the first leg, while Anthony Martial was well down the pecking order at that point, with January signing Alexis Sanchez preferred. All three came off the bench but they couldn't snatch an away goal.

A fortnight later United welcomed Sevilla to Old Trafford. Having beaten Chelsea and Liverpool between the two legs, confidence should have been high knowing a win at home would be enough to go through. Wrong. Having failed to nulify Banega in the first leg, Mourinho put the brakes on and went even more conservative.

Rashford was at least recalled to the starting XI but Maraoune Fellaini was picked ahead of Pogba and Martial remained benched. Mourinho started six defensively-minded players at home in a bid to completely mark Banega out of the game but it backfired once again. United lost 2-1 and were eliminated. The Argentine registered the most touches of the ball (108) and carved out seven goalscoring chances. Banega played United off their own park. He created 17 in total over the two legs, at least five more than any United player managed across the whole competition that year.

More than two years on and Banega is now 32. He is leaving to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Shabab once Sevilla's campaign is over. He will hope to bow out a Europa League champion for the third time. Of players with at least five appearances and more than 60 minutes of Europa League football under their belt this season, only Lorenzo Pellegrini (4.6) averages more key passes per 90 than Banega (4). He might be older but he clearly still has an eye for a pass.

While Banega clearly hasn't changed, United certainly have. United were heading into the abyss under Mourinho but now there is suddenly chatter of a title challenge next season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if the right players added in the summer. From their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in March 2018, only Nemanja Matic and Marcus Rashford will start when they face Sevilla on Sunday night. Eric Bailly too, though Victor Lindelof is expected to be recalled. Five of the starting XI from two years ago have been sold by Solskjaer and Chris Smalling has only just returned from a loan spell with Roma.

United started the 2019/20 campaign in tremendous fashion, opening up with a 4-0 win at home to Chelsea. It was quickly apparent United were deadly on the counter but less effective against teams that set up in a low block. The arrival of Bruno Fernandes, who has the best WhoScored rating in the Europa League this season (8.11), in January has helped but against Sevilla you may see United revert to counter-attacking football.

You will not see Solskjaer deploy United with as many defensively-minded players as Mourinho two years ago, however. In fact, Matic will be the lone screener but United may willingly sacrifice possession to be more dangerous. Sevilla average 66.3% possession in the Europa League this season, by far and away the largest share in the competition. Of players with at least five appearances in the competition this season, Sevilla have four players in the top eight for most passes per game.

In truth, that may well suit Solskjaer. United have conceded the second fewest chances per game (12.5) in the Europa League this season and should be confident of restricting Sevilla even if their opponents have more of the ball. With Pogba and Fernandes in midfield, United now have two players capable of turning defence into attack at the blink of and eye. Meanwhile, Mason Greenwood's introduction on the right wing means United have a three-pronged attack with goals being shared among the forwards.

Even though United are favourites with the bookies, those with knowledge of Sevilla will be quietly confident about their chances of making yet another final. These two sides have won four of the last six editions of the Europa League, with Sevilla triumphing three times in that period. Banega will be bidding for the perfect farewell and it's up to Solskjaer and his players to ensure they don't play to his tune on Sunday night like they did in 2018.