Sevilla president Pepe Castro insists he is not afraid by the prospect of Marcus Rashford returning from injury in time for Manchester United’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Fingers crossed, touch wood, Hail Mary and all that, but an injury crisis which threatened to derail United’s season appears to be easing.
There will, of course, be no Lisandro Martinez or Raphael Varane tonight. But Erik ten Hag did confirm at his midweek press conference that a number of key players were on the road to recovery; Luke Shaw, Marcel Sabitzer, Tyrell Malacia and talismanic top scorer Rashford all back in training ahead of that daunting trip to Andalusia.
Rashford has a remarkable 27 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season. If Ten Hag could call upon his unique brand of wrecking-ball attacking during a dominant first half at Old Trafford last week, perhaps this quarter-final second leg would be little more than the deadest of dead rubbers.
Marcus Rashford could return for Manchester United vs Sevilla
As it is, with Sevilla profiting from two last-gasp own goals, the tie is poised on a knife edge ahead of Thursday’s 8pm kick-off.
News of Rashford’s return potentially gives the visitors the edge over their Europa League-specialist hosts. But Sevilla’s president insists that Sevilla will roll with the punches and simply deal with the potential availability of one of the world’s most in-form forwards.
“It seems that the coach said he (Rashford) was going to play,” Castro tells COPE. “He doesn’t scare me at all.
“The favourite is Manchester United. But it is true that they face Sevilla, the team with the most European titles and (a team) that has earned prestige in Europe. They are favourites. But the favourite does not always win.
“We will have a magical night, a football party. Nobody is going to take away our belief.”
A victory in Seville would set up a semi-final clash with either Juventus or a Sporting Lisbon side who knocked out Arsenal thanks to Pedro ‘Pote’ Goncalves’ very own David Beckham moment.
“(The returning players are) available. That’s why they are on the aeroplane!” Ten Hag points out. “But I’ll take my decisions tomorrow (on Thursday.) We will make the decision.
“He (Rashford) had one training session with the team. But he had some individual sessions before.
“It’s clear. It’s about two legs. I think we played quite well for 60 mins and the last 30 mins we dropped a level. It’s not acceptable and we know that. You get punished.”