Man Utd boost ahead of Europa League clash as Sevilla SACK manager Jorge Sampaoli just weeks before match
MANCHESTER UNITED have been handed a Europa League boost after Sevilla sacked their manager.
The Red Devils were drawn against yet another Spanish side in the quarter-finals having seen off Barcelona and Real Betis in the previous rounds.
However, United know it will not be easy against a struggling Sevilla side – with the English giants yet to register a win against them in three attempts.
Record six-time winners Sevilla beat Fenerbahce to progress to the last eight, with the first leg at Old Trafford on April 13 before the return match a week later.
But results in LaLiga left Jorge Sampaoli on the brink of losing his job after just five months and 31 matches – and the club confirmed his exit on Tuesday morning at the beginning of the international break.
Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Getafe proved the final straw following recent losses to Osasuna and a 6-1 hammering by Atletico Madrid.
Sevilla sit 14th in the table, just TWO points above the relegation zone with 12 games to go.
The club’s board completed the documents and agreements with Sampaoli’s lawyers to terminate his contract.
The Argentine, 63, led Chile to Copa America glory in 2015 before taking over at Sevilla for the first time in 2016, losing in the Champions League last 16 to Leicester.
He managed his national team for the 2017-18 season and had spells in Brazil before returning to Europe at Marseille in March 2021 and then headed back to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in October 2022.
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Jose Luis Mendilibar is expected to step in as the new Sevilla boss until the end of the season.
He will, therefore, be the one tasked with keeping Sevilla in the Spanish top flight as well as trying to continue the European journey for the Europa League specialists.
Mendilibar, 62, started his managerial career in 1994 and has been in the hot seat of a host of Spanish clubs including Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna, Levante and Eibar – he left his most recent gig at Alaves in April 2022 after one win in 12 games.