Erik ten Hag says his players must “use emotion as a tool”

Manchester United face Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday (3pm ET). Erik ten Hag’s side know that they need a result in Spain if they are to progress after conceding twice late on in the first leg.

The Premier League side cruised into a 2-0 first half lead at Old Trafford but conceded two own goals in the final ten minutes to leave the game evenly poised.

Ten Hag was asked about the fiesty on-pitch atmosphere in the first leg and the United boss admitted that his players need to learn how to use the emotion of a game to their advantage.

‘’This is also in the development of our team. We have to use emotion as a tool, but you have to control it as well,” Ten Hag said.

“You have to put it in the right moments and that is important. That is in big games especially, you have to know when to use it and also when not to.”

Manchester United were drawn into a battle with Sevilla in the final 30 minutes and Ten Hag revealed after the game that he had substituted Antony and Bruno Fernandes after being warned by the referee that he was close to sending the duo off.

United “punished” after they “dropped a level”

In the first leg Manchester United surged into an early lead thanks to a Marcel Sabitzer brace. But after a positive showing in the opening 45 minutes Sevilla were able to gain a foothold in the second half, the United boss said.

“I think we played for over 60 minutes quite well. Then the last 30 minutes we dropped a level and we became passive. It is not acceptable and we know that, you see what happened when you are playing a game for only 60 minutes.”

“You cannot do it and when you do, you get punished,” Ten Hag said. “You have to be aware of it.”

Ten Hag happy with defensive performances

Sevilla’s late double came courtesy of two own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire to compound a frustrating evening for the Red Devils. During the game Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez picked up injuries that will keep them out of the second leg.

However Ten Hag insisted that he has no worries about the team’s defence for the upcoming games.

‘’I think defensively we are good,” the United boss said. “We have the most clean sheets in the Premier League so our organisation all over the pitch is quite good.”

“Attacking, yeah we should have scored more goals during the whole season but I am confident as, especially in the last few games, now we have all the players on board, we score in every game. So I am confident we can do that tomorrow as well.’’

Bruno Fernandes is out due to suspension but top scorer Marcus Rashford is back in contention after recovering from a groin injury.