Paul Scholes slams ‘complacent’ Man Utd after 2-2 Europa League draw vs Sevilla

Paul Scholes has slammed Manchester United’s second-half showing as ‘complacent’ after the Red Devils conceded two late goals to allow Sevilla to take a 2-2 draw away from Old Trafford, in the first leg of their Europa League tie.

United had led 2-0 going into the latter stages thanks to an early brace from Marcel Sabitzer, but own-goals in the 84th minute and the second minute of injury-time from Tyrell Malacia and then Harry Maguire saw Sevilla level the quarter-final tie ahead of the reverse fixture next week.

United had started the game brilliantly and were two goals up after 21 minutes, but Erik ten Hag’s side took their foot off the pedal from that point on and allowed Sevilla back into the game.

Speaking in the BT Sport studio after the match, Scholes was very critical of his former side. “A really strange second half that you can only put down to complacency,” the 48-year-old opined, when asked for his view of the match.

“Did it happen when we played? Possibly, but I don’t think the manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] would have allowed us to be complacent in the second half,” he added. “When you’re in a quarter-final like that, that’s the time to win the game, to win the tie. You win it here tonight.

“That should be 3,4,5-0 tonight against the opposition you’re playing. The only thing I can think, they felt it was going to be too easy, they felt it was going to be a stroll in the park. You just can’t do that in European competitions, you can’t do that against a club like Sevilla.”