Todo OK, José Luis
“It’s as if I’ve won a ticket to be here in the tombola.” That was the headline quote from José Luis Mendilibar before Sevilla’s clash with Manchester United, and at both half-time and full-time, it makes a pretty good opening line for the analysis too.
Sevilla came away with a famous 2-2 draw despite enduring their worst season since they returned to La Liga in 2002. It’s a better result than either Real Betis or Barcelona, with their far more heralded managers and better squads, could not achieve. Yet Mendilibar, making his first appearance in a major European competition (with apologies to the Intertoto Cup), gave Sevilla a real chance when they prepare for the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán return next week.
“Sevilla have something different in this competition to everyone else, and the players really believe in that,” Mendilibar remarked, who has been in the job just three weeks. Marcão, Tanguy Nianzou and Nemanja Gudelj all mentioned the same thing in their press duties - the first two have not yet been in Nervión for a full season.
They were the source of much controversy, the Brazilian making his first appearance in five months, the latter trusted despite his consistent warnings against doing so all season. The lack of a striker, Erik Lamela back as a false nine, seemed as if Mendilibar were resting players ahead of their crunch tie with Valencia at the weekend. And if we want to hold ourselves to a higher standard than just pure resultadismo, then there is no denying that Sevilla had to rely on a good deal of fortune to get their draw.
Minutes in, Mendilibar was being accused of all sorts of amateurism. Sevilla were being ripped apart by Manchester United. The gaping gap between Marcão and Nianzou was exploited time and again, and at half-time Sevillistas were concerned about whether they might concede five, six or seven. Mendilibar may protest, but he got it wrong, and only United wastefulness kept the scoreline within reach by the hour-mark.
But where Mendilibar, and his players, deserve credit, is their reaction. Jesús Navas came on to double up the right side with Gonzalo Montiel, and it was a move that changed the complection of the match, despite seemingly being a defensive change. His considered use of the ball, the desire of both Montiel and Navas to ensure they arrived at the by-line were responsible for Tyrell Malacia’s own goal. Towering above the defence twice, Youssef En-Nesyri had the desired impact, as his header rebounded off Harry Maguire and past David de Gea. Ivan Rakitic was left on, despite a troubling first half, and finished the game directing traffic.
The 62-year-old Basque showed that he still learns fast. The Sevilla team showed that this unabashed romance, their ethereal connection with the Europa League, weighs heavily on the balance of games. In this case, they had no right to steal a result from Old Trafford, but they took a mile whenever United forgave them inches.
Mendilibar has secured a better outcome than Manuel Pellegrini and Xavi Hernández could. When both Real Betis and Barcelona went behind, they arguably had more of the game than Sevilla until the final ten minutes, but their fears that they did not have the quality to come back were a self-fulfilling prophecy; they lacked the obstinance that Sevilla hold so close to their hearts.
Even if the starting line-up was Sampaoli-an, it is not long ago that Sevilla were thumped by Atlético Madrid 6-1. Los Rojiblancos did take advantage of their chances, but Sevilla collapsed. Fed up and confused at their duties, Sevilla’s players renounced their most basic tasks too. In Manchester, Sevilla showed a resilience that is in part described by that particularly zest that impregnates them on a Thursday night, but that Mendilibar may well be tempted to tentatively refer to as progress.