It’s the Europa League, otherwise known as the Champions League consolation bracket. Or the junior varsity tournament if you will. However, it also might be the best shot that Manchester United have of getting back into Europe next year, so they have to take this very seriously.
Manager Jose Mourinho needs a result here in the quarter-finals, in order to advance to the semi-final round.
The Red Devils take on Anderlecht tomorrow night in the home leg of their UEL tie, having drawn last week in a match where just couldn’t close. United let a potential 1-0 win slip away in the final minutes, and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Brussels.
It is expected that Sergio Romero will keep his place as the club’s Europa League goalkeeper. Here is the link to United injury report.
Attack: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Attacking Midfield: Ashley Young, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Midfield: Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera
Defense: Matteo Darmian, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia
Goalkeeper: Sergio Romero
Match Odds:
United- 1/4 Draw- 5/1 Anderlecht 11/1 (via Paddy Power)
Prediction: Manchester United 2, Anderlecht 0
United are coming off the best performance and biggest win of the Mourinho era. Sorry EFL Cup final, but you know it’s true. Was a virus plaguing Chelsea on Easter, and was that bug enough to hold the Blues back?
I guess we’ll never really know for sure, but what we do know is that Mourinho was masterclass with his tactics on Sunday. Afterward he explained how he pulled it off. He called it a special victory over a special opponent.
United remains on the outside looking in for top four, and thus, winning the UEL is the most practical path back into Europe’s real tournament. However, their chances are looking much better after the huge triumph last weekend.
Still United have a 1-1 coming home so they should, and likely will, take care of business here.
As always, feel free to post your own Man United starting XI in the comments section below. And of course speak your mind on the formations and Man United starting XI s that you’ve already seen online.
Enjoy the match!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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