Former Manchester City winger and Sevilla veteran Jesus Navas believes his side can pull off an upset against Manchester United in the Champions League.
Jose Mourinho’s men travel to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash with the fifth placed La Liga side.
Sevilla were knocked out by Leicester City at this stage last season but notably pegged Liverpool back to a 3-3 draw in the group stages this season.
And Navas, speaking ahead of the clash with Man United, made it clear that Vincenzo Montella’s side can pack a punch.
“For us, it’s all about getting through to the next round,” he said. “But I know it would be nice for some of the friends I’ve got back in Manchester if we did manage to pull it off and knock out United.
“If people underestimate us, they should look at what we’re doing at the moment, our performances. We’re a great side and we can achieve things.
“This is a really important game for Sevilla, for the club, for our fans, and it would be great for us to make it to the quarter-finals.
“We know it’s going to be a hard game, but we’re doing well at the moment and we’ll do everything in our power to go through against United.”
“We know we’ll have to be at our maximum level and concentrated throughout both games, because at any moment, a top team like United can finish the tie.
“United have also got some really important games coming up, starting with us, but hopefully we’re going to be able to stand in their way.”
United bring with them greater firepower and greater expectations on their shoulders on Wednesday, and will, you sense, have what it takes to dominate proceedings in similar fashion to Liverpool – at least initially – earlier this season.
But the capitulation of Jurgen Klopp’s men should also serve as an important reminder of the potential ferociousness and precision Sevilla can bring to the table – especially at home.
The likes of Wissam Ben Yedder, Nolito, Ganso and Luis Muriel can all cause damage going forward and Paul Pogba, who is expected to return for the game, will need to be at his best to overcome Steven N’Zonzi and Guido Pizarro in the middle.