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Man Utd news: Sky Sports pundit makes surprise Juan Mata claim after Sevilla defeat
JUAN MATA should have started for Manchester United against Sevilla.
Juan Mata was overlooked from the starting line-up against Sevilla
Those are the thoughts of Danny Higginbotham.
Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League last night after a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Sevilla.
Ben Yedder grabbed a double in four minutes for the visitors, and although Romelu Lukaku replied for United, it wasn’t enough.
Mata played a cameo role, coming on for Antonio Valencia, as Jose Mourinho started Jesse Lingard instead.
And Higginbotham has admitted he was surprised not to see Mata start.
“I must admit when I saw the team sheet I was surprised Juan [Mata] wasn’t playing,” Higginbotham told Sky Sports’ The Debate.
Mourinho: Every player is sad after Sevilla loss
I must admit when I saw the team sheet I was surprised Juan [Mata] wasn’t playing
“It was a game where there wasn’t going to be any space in behind, because the opposition would drop deep.
“They were going to be fearful of the pace of Lukaku, Sanchez and Rashford.”
When asked who shouldn’t have started, Higginbotham added: “It was a tough one as to who leave out.
Danny Higginbotham thinks Manchester United should have started Juan Mata
“You’re going to play Sanchez - he’s a big-money signing.
“Rashford is going to stay in because of the weekend and possibly Lingard would make way.”
United now turn their attentions to the FA Cup and they host Brighton on Saturday in the quarter-finals (7.45pm).
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