Football
Adriana Garcia 6y

Sevilla's Wissam Ben Yedder: 'Impossible is possible' after Man United win

Wissam Ben Yedder was elated that his two goals lifted Sevilla past Manchester United and into the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in 60 years.

The striker, who did not feature in the goalless opening leg in Spain, came off the bench in the 71st minute and scored twice in five minutes in Tuesday's 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

"The impossible is possible for me," Ben Yedder told Sevilla's website. "I had mentally prepared myself well and I was ready to deliver when the coach told me I was going to go in.

"I always give my best to score goals and I was able to find spaces in United's defence. I don't put any limits on myself and the team responded in a brilliant way against a huge rival. We've made history after many years and we couldn't be any happier. For me, it means a lot as it's not every day that you reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League."

Ben Yedder, 27, has frequently found himself on the bench since Vincenzo Montella was appointed Sevilla's coach in December, making just one start in his last six competitive outings.

Now Sevilla's leading scorer in the competition with eight goals in seven appearances, Ben Yedder told beIN SPORTS he is delighted his positive attitude has paid off.

"I don't know how to describe my feelings," Ben Yedder said. "It's a childhood dream to win against great players, great teams like Manchester United. There is a lot of emotion. We're going to try to enjoy that together. We're now part of the club's history. It's the first time we're in the Champions League quarterfinals. It's exceptional.

"It's difficult, but it's part of life: play, be a substitute, wait for your time to come. Sometimes patience pays off. That's what I have always thought. Everyone said there were problems between me and the coach, [but] there's no problem. He brought me off the bench, he trusted me, and I repaid that in the way I could. I have always shut my mouth and worked. The coach was happy. I was happy. That's all that counts."

Sevilla president Jose Castro said his team deserved to go through based on its performances in the two legs.

"My team was superior throughout the whole tie," Castro told Onda Cero radio. "We were superior in the opening leg, too, and should have taken a win to Old Trafford. We needed a feat and we got it.

"We've been able to beat a team full of stars and now we are among the best eight in Europe. Games like this one remain in our retina because of what we've done, where we've done it and against who we've done it against. What we have achieved is huge."

After the goals, Ben Yedder's former club, Toulouse, campaigned for him to be part of France's squad for friendlies later this month against Colombia and Russia.

Coach Didier Deschamps is set to announce his squad on Thursday, and Ben Yedder has yet to play for his country's senior side after making his last under-21 appearance back in October 2012.

"Didier, we've still got the 06 [mobile telephone number] of Wissam ben Yedder, eh..." the tweet read.

Ben Yedder moved to Sevilla in 2016 after six seasons with the Ligue 1 side.

ESPN FC's France correspondent Ian Holyman contributed to this report.

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