Manchester United return to UEFA Europa League action on Thursday night where they will travel to the Czech Republic to face Viktoria Plzeň at the Doosan Arena. United have won their last two matches in the Europa League and will be seeking to end 2024 on a high in Europe by beating Plzeň.
United are currently on two defeats in a row having lost 2-0 to Arsenal in midweek last week and 3-2 to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday evening. Ruben Amorim will need to pull something out of the bag to get a result against the Czech side on Thursday evening, which is very important.
United sit in 12th place in the league phase table of the Europa League at the time of writing with Plzeň sitting in 13th place with both teams having nine points from their first five matches in the competition this season. United will need to go back to winning ways to get in the top eight to reach the round of 16, avoiding a play off round.
Predicted Manchester United Starting XI – 3-4-2-1
Onana;
Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez;
Amad, Casemiro, Mainoo, Malacia;
Fernandes, Garnacho;
Hojlund
Goalkeeper: Onana
Andre Onana should continue to start in goal for United given the experience that he has, which supersedes that of other players vying to start in goal for United. The Cameroonian is a top goalkeeper but his teammates are letting him down at this stage of the season given the number of goals that has been conceded.
United will need to overcome this lack of defensive form and find a way to come back and stop the goals being conceded. It is early in Amorim’s career at United to expect him to resolve the problems but he has quite a few problems to resolve at the club, which is the major problem for him and his coaching staff.
Onana is a much better option to Altay Bayindir at this stage of the season being that the Turkish international has played little football for United since signing for the club in the summer of 2023. Tom Heaton won’t be seen as a good option either as he has not appeared for United’s first team since October 2023.
Defenders: Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez
United should go back to basics in the defence under Amorim with Noussair Mazraoui returning to the starting XI once more. The Moroccan should be on of the first names on the team sheet for the Old Trafford club based upon his work rate and what he offers in both defence and attack – he was a great signing in the summer.
Matthijs de Ligt should also start again for United as I believe he is one of the best defenders at the club this season. It may be too soon for Leny Yoro to be starting for the club, but he made his debut at the weekend and seemed out of sorts. United need to be picking their best players who are fit and ready to perform.
Lisandro Martinez should complete the defensive trio in the back three for United. His form has not been impressive of late but form is temporary and class is permanent. I believe a match like this could help to restore his confidence and help getting United ticking over and achieving the results needed on the pitch.
Midfield: Amad, Casemiro, Mainoo, Malacia
The four man midfield will need some tinkering with ahead of Thursday’s class with Plzeň, especially with the fact that United face City in the first Manchester derby of the season in the Premier League. Amad should be starting on the right-wing as he offers a lot going forward and United could do with that creativity.
In the centre of the midfield, Casemiro should return to the starting XI and be partnered with Kobbie Mainoo, who have partnered in the centre of the midfield many times before. This duo has youth and experience and will be a good mix as United venture in to the unknown for the third time in the Europa League this season.
Tyrell Malacia should start as the left wing back against Plzeň which will give Diogo Dalot a rest to get ready for the big game against City at the weekend. United will need to find a way to get three points in this match to better their position in the Europa League with two matches remaining before the knockout matches.
Attack: Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho
Rasmus Hojlund should start against Plzeň on Thursday evening as his form has been good for much of his last few appearances for the club. It is important that United pick the players in form with the experience and the hunger to guide the club to victory. United were unlucky against Forest at the weekend – now to kick back!
Supporting the Danish striker should be Bruno Fernandes, the club captain and Alejandro Garnacho. The duo have been largely positive recently and have 13 goals and 13 assists between them so far this season. Hojlund has five goals and one assist so far, which shows that this attacking line is finding its feet for the remainder of the season.
United will have other options as they travel to the Czech Republic to face Plzeň with Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Antony all likely to be part of the squad unless Amorim feels that youth players are doing something more to be given a chance in the first team ranks in Europe so far this season?
Substitutes: Bayindir, Heaton; Maguire, Yoro, Dalot; Mount, Eriksen, Ugarte; Rashford, Zirkzee, Antony, Wheatley
United could have a maximum of 12 players on the bench against Plzeň in the Europa League on Thursday evening. It is expected that Altay Bayindir will be on the bench again. He could be joined by Tom Heaton unless more than one youth player is to be added to the travelling squad.
In defence, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot could be available for United, who will add some strength and depth should it be needed. In the midfield, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen and Manual Ugarte could all be available as United seek to find the right balance of the playing squad.
In attack, Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee, Antony and Ethan Wheatley could all be available for the Red Devils as they seek to get another victory in the Europa League to better their chances of finishing the league phase in the top eight so they miss the play off round this season, which is important for United.
Written by Paul
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