Jose Luis Mendilibar: Sevilla won't change mentality if Marcus Rashford returns

The 25-year-old has recovered from a difficult campaign in stunning fashion, scoring 28 goals in all competitions before pulling up injured against Everton 11 days ago.

Rashford missed last week's chaotic, and potentially costly, 2-2 first-leg draw with Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals but there is a chance he will return in Spain on Thursday.

The England international trained with his team-mates ahead of the trip to Seville, where he scored a stunner as United won 1-0 at city rivals Real Betis in the previous round.

œWell, Rashford is one of the best players nowadays - but we™re not going to change our mentality or idea if Rashford plays or not, head coach Mendilibar said.

œWe have to think about ourselves, respecting the opposite team but we don™t have to think about particular players.

œIf Rashford plays, it™s because he™s ready. If he™s not, another top player will play there.

Sevilla are understandably confident heading into the second leg given the way last week™s match ended at Old Trafford.

Completely outplayed in the first half, Mendilibar™s side grew into the match and snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw thanks to late Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire own goals.

œIf I have to be honest, it™s not an easy game tomorrow, the Sevilla boss, who was appointed last month, said ahead of the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan encounter.

œIt™s going to be a tough game. For me, we are tied 50-50. It™s true that the fans will help us but on the pitch it™s going to be 11 v 11 players.

œThey played so many times in this competition, quarter-finals, so seriously I don™t think it™s going to be an easy game and that™s what the players are thinking now.

Sevilla have won the Europa League on a record five occasions, most recently lifting it in 2020 having beaten United in a one-legged semi-final in Cologne.

Nemanja Gudelj was part of that victorious team and is looking for another memorable win as the Andalusians continue to kick on under Mendilibar from a challenging LaLiga season.

œSevilla always wants to win every game, he said. œEven though we know we had a difficult season, especially in the beginning, we view every game as a final and the next final that™s coming is the game tomorrow.