Former Manchester City star and current Sevilla attacker Jesus Navas has warned Manchester United not to take his team lightly
Sevilla winger Jesus Navas has fired warning shots at Premier League side Manchester United, ahead of their Round of 16 clash in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, according to a report from the Mirror.
Manchester United take on Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this Wednesday and Navas, who used to play for United’s local rivals Manchester City for four years between 2013 and 2017, has claimed that Jose Mourinho’s men should underestimate Sevilla at their own peril and that his side will be gunning to try and oust the twenty-time English champions from Europe’s premier footballing event.
“For us, it’s all about getting through to the next round,” said Navas ahead of the Reds’ visit on Wednesday for the first leg of their last-16 clash, as quoted by the Mirror.
“If people underestimate us, they should look at what we’re doing at the moment, our performances, the fact we’ve got to a final already and we’re still in all of the competitions. We’re a great side and we can achieve things.”
The 32-year old joined the Citizens from Sevilla back in 2013 and went on to make 183 appearances, winning a Premier League title and two League Cup trophies along the way. He returned to Seville last summer, at the expiry of his contract with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Jesus Navas (Sevilla): "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 (out of the Champions League)." pic.twitter.com/nOiJW0qWgX
— City Watch (@City_Watch) February 19, 2018
Navas also went on to declare that he has an extra reason for being motivated for the big game owing to his allegiances with Manchester City. The Spaniard then claimed that the City fans would be extremely pleased to see Mourinho’s side getting knocked out of the competition.
“United were always our great rivals when I was at City, and we played some really important games against them. 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.”
Since returning to Sevilla in the last summer, Navas has notched up 35 appearances in all competitions, coming up with returns of two goals and two assists, helping his team to fifth place in the La Liga standings and the finals of the Copa del Rey, where they will be taking on Barcelona.
Sevilla made it out of the group comprising of Manchester United’s Premier League rivals Liverpool. The Spanish outfit managed to hold the Reds to draws in both home and away fixtures under the guidance of Eduardo Berizzo.
However, since then, Berizzo has been sacked owing to a run of poor results, but things have been back on track for the club under new manager Vincenzo Montella and they will, no doubt, present a difficult proposition to the Mancunians.
