The weekend fixture, Manchester United versus defending Premier League champions Leicester City will soon be upon us meaning that once again it is Man United starting XI projection time. Manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at the critics, who came out in full force after United went on a three game losing streak last week. The skid ended against Northampton in the EFL Cup, but beating a League One side won’t silence many of the detractors.
Mourinho answered his critics by referring to them as “football Einsteins.” Wayne Rooney responded to those who have been deriding him too; saying that the criticism of him is just rubbish.
Mourinho’s argument seemed a lot more convincing than Rooney’s. A recent Manchester United fan poll found that 99% of respondents wanted Rooney dropped from the first team. That didn’t happen in the midweek EFL Cup clash and we’re predicting it won’t happen here either.
Related: Jose Mourinho press conference previewing the match today; video available at this link
Related: United injury report for this match available at this link
United won the Community Shield battle between the two sides in early August and they are substantial favorites in this one. Bet365 is giving 13-20 odds for a Red Devils win, 29-10 for a draw and 9-2 for a Leicester City win.
Without further ado, here’s The Sports Bank’s Man United starting XI prediction:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Marcus Rashford Wayne Rooney Juan Mata
Ander Herrera Paul Pogba
Daley Blind Chris Smalling Eric Bailly Antonio Valencia
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.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.