Ivan Rakitic warns Man Utd duo they will 'suffer' against Sevilla
By Sean Walsh
Sevilla vice-captain Ivan Rakitic has warned Manchester United that they 'don't know what awaits them' ahead of Thursday's crunch Europa League match.
The Red Devils threw away a 2-0 lead late on in the first leg of their quarter-final last week, with own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire offering the Spanish side a route back into the tie.
Having won the UEFA Cup and Europa League a record six times, Sevilla are known across the continent as the kings of the competition. They notably dumped Man Utd out at the semi-final stage at the back-end of the 2019/20 season.
Rakitic first moved to Sevilla in 2011 before moving to Barcelona three years later, returning to Andalusia in 2020.
Speaking to AS, the Croatian midfielder sent a stark warning to United ahead of their trip to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
"These people don’t know what awaits them on Thursday. It is a team with a lot of experience and many millions, but United does not know what Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is like packed. I know from when I was at Barcelona that players from other teams sing the Sevilla anthem on the pitch," he said.
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"It is unique. What our fans have created is very impressive."
David de Gea and Casemiro played plenty of La Liga matches at Sevilla during their respective spells with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, and Rakitic believes they know the full extent of the rough ride United are in for.
"De Gea or Casemiro, who have played here, will surely explain to them that this is something else. You get anywhere and they say that this is Sevilla's competition," he added.
"They are going to have to suffer, I cannot guarantee that we will qualify but we are going to leave everything on the field.
"We are talking about one of the most important teams in Europe and with significant economic potential. There are few teams that can take away a Real Madrid starter, Casemiro, that speaks of the strength and potential of Manchester United."
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