Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained his team selection for tonight’s crucial Europa League Group E clash against Real Sociedad.
The Dutchman has made three changes to the side that beat West Ham United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Victor Lindelof, Donny van de Beek and Alejandro Garnacho come into the side with club captain Harry Maguire, Anthony Elanga and Marcus Rashford dropping to the bench.
Having missed the win against the Hammers through illness, Lindelof comes back into the heart of our defence to partner Lisandro Martinez with the world’s most expensive defender making way.
Van de Beek has been handed his first Manchester United start since December 2021 when he started the Champions League dead rubber against Young Boys at the Theatre of Dreams when Ralf Rangnick was in interim charge.
United’s number 34 will be looking to link up with fellow midfielders Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes who will wear the captain’s armband with Maguire starting on the bench.
It’ll be fascinating to see how we line-up against the Spanish side with us playing with four midfielders.
Fernandes could play out on the right with Van de Beek occupying the attacking midfielder role or we could play a 4-3-1-2 formation with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line alongside Garnacho.
In order to usurp the Basque side and qualify for the last-16 as Group E winners, the Red Devils need to beat Sociedad by two goals in the Reale Arena following the La Liga side’s controversial 1-0 win at Old Trafford in September.
If we don’t win by two goals in San Sebastian, we will face a third-placed Champions League side in a play-off, which will be two games added to an already jam-packed calendar, with the draw for that stage taking place on Monday.
Ten Hag explains his Manchester United team selection vs Real Sociedad
Explaining his team selection on MUTV, Ten Hag said: “He’s [Van de Beek] back, he needs to work himself back and I think we need him today.
“[He can] definitely bring scoring abilities, he’s good in movements, in between the lines – getting in behind, good in transition, counter press, those are his capabilities, and he has to show it today.
“He [Garnacho] has to show he’s reliable to deserve that start and to also show good defending positions, pressing, running in behind.
“I want to see actions from him.”
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