New Manchester United training pictures show Pogba, Fernandes and Rashford preparing for Europa League semi

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Tom Dutton16 August 2020

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called on his big players to step up as the Manchester United squad prepare for their Europa League semi-final against Sevilla.

Having required extra time to see off FC Copenhagen 1-0 in Monday's quarter-final, the Red Devils will return to Stadion Koln on Sunday in search of a place in August 21 finale.

United are looking to make it third time lucky having lost at the semi-final stage of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup under Solskjaer this term.

They face a Sevilla side who have made the Europe League their own in recent years, winning the title three times in a row between 2014-2016. They also finished fourth in La Liga under Julen Lopetegui this term after two seasons without a top-four finish.

But the size of the task facing United has not dampened spirits, with plenty of smiles on display as the players prepared for the last-four tie.

Solskjaer said ahead of the match: "We have to play our best game, play out of their press, be clever, be creative, step up in those big moments," Solskjaer told reporters. "These games will be decided on a set-piece or a piece of individual brilliance.

"It's time to step up for big players, big-game moments. You have to have 100 per cent focus. We have learnt it is very painful to lose a semi-final... We've been in them twice this season but we're not satisfied.

"In any game it is important to start well. If you start on the back foot, if you don't get first touches and tackle you go searching."

Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe remain in Manchester as the defenders recover from injury.

Scroll through the gallery above to see the latest pictures of Manchester United in training ahead of their Europa League semi-final....