Manchester United news: Jose Mourinho strikes luck in Champions League draw
United avoided Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus – plus a long, tricky trip to the Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk – and instead will face Sevilla for the first time in any European competition.
Sevilla are lying fifth in La Liga – 11 points behind leaders Barcelona – following a crushing 5-0 defeat at Real Madrid at the weekend but Mourinho will have noted they held Liverpool to two draws in the group stages this season.
And if he wants any updates he can always consult United’s three Spanish ‘amigos’ – David De Gea, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera.
After a 2-2 draw at Anfield in September, Sevilla staged a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down at half-time in the return at Spain to draw 3-3 after manager Eduardo Berizzo fired up his players during his half-time team talk by revealing he needed treatment for prostate cancer.
Mourinho will also be well aware of Sevilla’s reputation for being wily European campaigners, although their pedigree comes mainly in Europe’s second tier competition.
They have won a record five UEFA Cup/Europa League crowns in the last 11 years – starting the run with a win over Middlesbrough in the 2006 final while beating Liverpool to win their fifth in 2016.