Harry Maguire admits Man Utd defence were at fault for Sevilla winner… but insists ‘best team lost’
HARRY MAGUIRE admitted the Manchester United defence were to blame for Sevilla’s winner as they were KO’d from the Europa League.
But the £85million skipper insisted the “best team lost” on the night as the Red Devils wasted a hatful of chances to book a spot in the final.
Luuk de Jong’s 78th-minute winner left United all at sea at the back with neither Maguire, Victor Lindelof or Aaron Wan-Bissaka picking up the super sub.
It was United’s THIRD semi-final defeat in the 2019-20 season after crashing out at the same stage of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
It is now the first time in 30 years United have gone three consecutive seasons WITHOUT a trophy.
And Maguire had to face the music after the game as his hopes of lifting the Europa League crumbled before him with the 2-1 defeat in Cologne.
"The boys in there are devastated."
— Football on BT Sport #Club2020 (@btsportfootball) August 16, 2020
"We need to get better. Losing is not acceptable."
A disappointed Harry Maguire reflects on Man Utd's third semi-final exit of the season.@darrellcurrietv#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/chf6WoSN6x
He told BT Sport: “It’s difficult. The boys are devastated.
“We created numerous chances. The best team lost.
“They punished us for missing chances. They didn’t make many chances to be honest.
“We conceded from two crosses which is not good enough.
“We worked our socks off and deserved to win and get through.
“We fell short in a semi-final for the third time this year.
“We have a good group of lads. Losing is not acceptable. Getting to semi-finals isn’t acceptable.
“Improvement made this year is massive. We played a good Sevilla team – another day we win it. Losing is not acceptable for this club.”
The former Leicester man was pressed on when United will finally win silverware – their last trophy coming three years ago when Jose Mourinho led them to Europa League glory.
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Maguire added: “It’ll happen soon. We want to win it as soon as possible.
“If we take another giant step next season we’ll improve again. Tonight we turned up and the best team lost.
“Perhaps that bit of inexperience cost us – we shouldn’t have conceded that second goal.”