Heading into Manchester United’s Sunday fixture at Arsenal, Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho gave his weekly preview press conference (video here), and in it he indicated that would be resting some of his starters for this one. Mourinho is now prioritizing winning the Europa League competition, and that is the primary route back into the Champions League. Here is a link to the latest top four odds for all of the remaining contenders.
“In relation to the Europa League it’s very important they have come back on time. We have two matches in one week against Celta and so it is important to have everyone back,” he said on Wednesday,” Mourinho said.
“In relation to the Premier League I think it’s too late because in the past month we played nine matches, seven of them in the Premier League and we had too many problems, too many players out.”
There was also a lot of talk about the personal rivalry between Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, with the Gunners boss saying that he is open to peace with his arch-nemesis. Mourinho responded by saying that there is already detente between the two men.
Not sure we actually believe that, but hey that’s what he said!
Moving on, here is our MUFC predicted lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation (some starters rested!) Also Tim Fosu-Mensah (more on that here) and now even Ashley Young (more on that here) are now both out for the season.
Anthony Martial
Jesse Lingard Wayne Rooney Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Juan Mata Michael Carrick
Daley Blind Phil Jones Chris Smalling Matteo Darmian
David de Gea
As always, feel free to post your own Man United starting XI in the comments section below. Speak your mind on the formations and line-ups that are already presented here for your discussion.
Match Odds:
United- 11/4 Draw- 5/2 Arsenal- evens
Prediction: Manchester United 0, Arsenal 0
While United will sit their stars, and be without numerous injured players, I still think will do enough to grind out a point at the Emirates. Fifth place United do not need to find a way to get all three points from this fixture in order to stay in the top four race, given what Mourinho just said about the Swansea City result being their last opportunity to realize that cause.
The sixth place Gunners need it more, but I have a feeling we’ll see a hyper-pragmatic, perhaps even ugly approach to this one (a la the Manchester derby) and an aesthetically displeasing final result.
We’ll have the links to the Man United injury report and Man United starting XI prediction up here soon.
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.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube