Do not confuse simplicity with simplicity. Football is an ancient invention. There are coaches who, when they arrive, make up their teams bizarrely, believing that they can hide their imperfections. And there are coaches who look at the aged faces of their own and whisper, "I like you that way." Sevilla beat Manchester with an unforgettable sufficiency (3-0). This Sevilla is an incomplete and beautiful team. Although enthusiasm is not enough to cover all its damages, each game is an adventure. José Luis Mendilibar is a gold prospector, sitting on the banks of a river in the far west.

With a daring eleven, with Lamela, Ocampos and En-Nesyri in point, the Basque coach went for European manhood. United, despite the result, were superior in the second leg. And he came out confident. In the 7th minute, intense pressure from Nervionense forced Maguire's error. Near his area, the centre-back gave clumsy and badly to a teammate. Lamela recovered the ball and gave it to En-Nesyri who, at will, beat De Gea. Those in red walked, those in white stepped on the grass rearing.

Antony tried, almost always partnering with a spirited Casemiro, but the Sevilla defense was confident and united. No risk. No shaking. Fernando, indefatigable, cemented the rearguard. Marcao had to be substituted when he relapsed from his injury. Suso and Gudelj delayed their position. The centre-back was crying on the way to the locker room. That's how emotional the shock was. It was all skin. The unforeseen event did not alter the spirit of his people. They shrank firmly. They were giants.

Gudelj centred with a rabona and Ocampos came close to scoring. The match was a beautiful chaos. The timid English, the disheveled Andalusians. In the 40th minute, Ocampos scored after Acuña's cross. The referee, Artur Dias, annulled the goal for offside. "Let's go," shouted the Argentine after the brief disappointment. As if nothing mattered that

night. As if happiness were unshakable. The first half ended with cheers and hugs in the stands. A very white Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Hearts, splendidly whipped.

At the exit of the dressing room, Rashford replaced Sancho and Shaw to a deconcentrated Wan-Bissaka. In Sevilla everything remained the same, because perfection does not admit nuances. Barely a minute passed when Rakitic took a corner. Loïc Badé flew into the centre of the area and headed a pumped header. The ball went past De Gea, who jumped early, and after hitting the crossbar, fell to goal. Sevillismo was going crazy. Manchester paid for their disability with the opponent's legs. The party would be memorable.

Erik ten Hag shook the bench, but nothing changed. Mendilibar kept his own, hurried the refreshment, prepared for the harassment of the last minutes. He had a plan. A contained plan. A lucid strategy after a year of bloated literature and colorful frustrations. A free kick by Eriksen in the 70th went close to Bono's squad. But United weren't there. Devils brave. In the 80th minute, En-Nesyri ended the match. De Gea failed with a bang, leaving a dead ball outside the area, and the Moroccan striker took advantage of the gift. The theater of dreams is a traveling show and today played function in Nervión. Europe is a state of mind. Football is a sober gymnastics. Mendilibar gave a lesson only with silences. Sevilla, after a season full of wounds, now boasts scars.

  • Seville
  • David De Gea

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