MADRID, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Sevilla coach Jose Luis Mendilibar will make his debut in European competition in Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium when his side plays the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday.
Mendilibar's coaching career stretches back over 950 matches at all levels of the Spanish game and Sevilla is the seventh side that he has coached in the top-flight, but the 62-year-old has never coached in a European match in his entire career.
Now he is very much in at the deep end as Sevilla looks for their seventh Europa League title away to Erik ten Hag's in-form Manchester United, who has already knocked both FC Barcelona and Sevilla's near neighbors, Betis out of the competition.
Sevilla travels to the 'Theater of Dreams' still immersed in a battle against relegation, despite Mendilibar's first two matches in charge since replacing Jorge Sampaoli bringing them an away win against Cadiz and a 2-2 draw at home to Celta last Friday.
With a vital relegation duel away to Valencia this weekend, it will be interesting to see if the coach decides to reserve any key players for a match that could see them put space between themselves and the bottom three.
Mendilibar has some good news on the injury front, with winger Lucas Ocampos available to play after missing last weekend, while Papu Gomez, Karim Rekik and Maracao also return to the squad.
Central midfielder Joan Jordan is still out through injury and Pape Gueye can't play as he was not included in Sevilla's list for Europe.
Marcus Rashford will miss out for Manchester United with a groin injury and Anthony Martial, who had a disappointing spell on loan with Sevilla last season, will lead the United attack alongside Wout Weghorst against a rival that will keep things simple, defend in depth and look to attack on the break. ■
