Ten Hag holds hands up after 'unacceptable' collapse

Erik ten Hag says Manchester United let the fans down with their "unacceptable" lack of fight and desire in Thursday's humiliating Europa League exit to Sevilla.

Last week the Red Devils threw away a commanding quarter-final lead as late Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire own goals saw the first leg end in a chaotic 2-2 draw.

But United wilted rather than rallied in the return leg in Spain, falling to an embarrassing 3-0 loss as Ten Hag's side bowed out of the Europa League 5-2 on aggregate.

Youssef En-Nesyri capitalised on an early Harry Maguire mistake on Thursday and, after Loic Bade's header, punished David De Gea's slip in a chastening defeat.

Put to Ten Hag that Sevilla appeared more up for the game than his team, he said: "I have to acknowledge [that]. It's the truth.

"It's hard, it's tough, but it's the truth. It can't be and it's unacceptable, but I think we showed in the past we can quickly bounce back.

"We did it between games many times this season but what we have to learn is to start games better, with more desire, more composure on the ball and when you get the setback you have to deal with it and carry on."

United's Europa League exit will be compounded if they put in a similar performance against Brighton in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.

Ten Hag's side lost at home to the Seagulls in his first game in charge and knows he has a big job to lift them for Wembley.

"I already started," he said. "We lift them and we have to pick them up.

"But also we have to face that we let ourselves down, we let the fans down and if you want to win trophies, if you want to be successful, you need other character."

The Sevilla loss is bracketed alongside other chastening defeats, from the 4-0 loss at Brentford and 6-3 shellacking at