SEVILLA midfielder Ivan Rakitic has warned Manchester United they will have to “suffer” in their Europa League quarter-final second-leg on Thursday.
The Red Devils head to Spain off the back of a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford.
Manchester United relinquished a two-goal lead against Sevilla last weekGetty
Ivan Rakitic believes Man Utd should fear Sevilla ahead of the second legEPA
Erik ten Hag‘s men spurned a two-goal lead as the visitors struck in stoppage-time to capitalise on a depleted United team.
Both Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane went off injured and are unavailable for the return clash.
And ex-Barcelona man Rakitic, 35, who won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2014, has sent a stern warning to the Premier League outfit as they travel to face the LaLiga side.
Speaking to AS, he said: “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 [Sevilla’s ground] is like packed.
“I know from when I was at Barcelona that players from other teams sing the Sevilla anthem on the pitch.
“It’s unique. What our fans have created is very impressive.”
Rakitic then predicted that David de Gea and Casemiro – who have experienced facing Sevilla during their time in LaLiga – will speak to their team-mates about the intensity of the stadium.
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He added: “De Gea or Casemiro, who have played here, will surely explain to them [the rest of the squad] that this is something else.
‘”You go anywhere and they say that this is Sevilla’s competition.
“They are going to have to suffer, I cannot guarantee that we will qualify but we are going to leave everything on the field.”
Sevilla have won the Europa League – previously the Uefa Cup – on six occasions, twice as many times as any other club.
And all of those triumphs have come since 2006 – including three times in a row between 2014 and 2016.
They also lifted the trophy in 2020 under now-Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui.
Meanwhile, United are still competing on three fronts as they continue to battle for a top four spot in the Premier League and also face Brighton in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.