Erik ten Hag’s hunt for silverware at Manchester United shows no sign of slowing down with his side into the final eight of the Europa League thanks to their dominance over Real Betis.
The Carabao Cup is already in the bag and the Red Devils are still in the FA Cup with a quarter-final against Fulham to come at Old Trafford, but attention now turns to who they could be facing in the Europa League quarter-finals.
With a tough run of domestic fixtures coming up, United could do with a kind draw to avoid overloading a squad that is still thin in areas.
United will back themselves against anyone left in the tournament now, so here is who they could come up against and how the tournament has gone so far.
Manchester United started their Europa League group containing Real Sociedad, FC Sheriff Tiraspol, and Omonoia Nicosia with a surprising defeat at home against La Real. That proved to be the undoing of their chances of finishing top of the group.
United won all five of their other games, while Real Sociedad won every game except for losing to United in Spain. Goal difference meant the San Sebastian side topped the group and United had to go into the knockout round play-off, adding two more games that Ten Hag will have wanted to ignore.
READ NEXTThat situation got worse when United were drawn to face La Liga leaders Barcelona. Two thrilling games ensued which ended 2-2 in Barcelona and then 2-1 to United at Old Trafford, meaning a 4-3 aggregate win and a place in the round of 16 secured.
Another Spanish side was waiting. This time, it was Real Betis but United made light work of them in the first leg by winning 4-1, making the second game in Seville a formality – they won that 1-0.
The two legs for the next round of the Europa League will be played on 13 and 20 April, meaning there is a short break before the European action gets back underway.
United are certainly in the mindset now that they can beat anyone in the tournament, but there are some big teams left who will be thinking similarly. There are no rules stopping teams from the same country from facing each other at this stage and United could get Sporting CP, Roma, Juventus, Sevilla or Bayer Leverkusen, all of which would be very tough.
There is no such thing as an easy draw when it gets to this stage of the Europa League as everyone is there on merit, but Sevilla, Sporting and Juventus are three teams Ten Hag would rather not face if it can be helped.
