Erik ten Hag will be looking to get Manchester United’s Europa League charge back on track with victory against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday night.
After losing 1-0 against La Liga side Real Sociedad at Old Trafford in our opening Europa League group stage game, the Red Devils need three points in Moldova.
The reigning Moldova Super Liga champions will be somewhat of an unknown quantity to the majority of Manchester United’s playing squad.
But after reaching last season’s Champions League group stages, Ten Hag will be well aware that his side face a difficult trip.
Manchester United players that have previously faced Sheriff Tiraspol
While Cristiano Ronaldo will no doubt be looking to add Sheriff to the ever-growing list of teams the great Portuguese has scored against, their are only two Manchester United players that have previously faced Sheriff Tiraspol.
Casemiro is the most recent United player to have pitted his wits against the Moldavian giants.
The Brazilian started both of Real Madrid’s Champions League group stage games against Sheriff last season.
Tiraspol pulled off a massive shock by beating Los Blancos 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu last September, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side got their revenge by winning 3-0 in Moldova en-route to winning the competition.
In his first season at Tottenham Hotspur following his move from Ajax in August 2013, Christian Eriksen faced Sheriff twice in the Europa League group stages.
The Danish playmaker started both of the matches under Andre Villas-Boas and the north Londoners came out on top in both encounters.
In the 2-1 win at White Hart Lane, Eriksen set up Erik Lamela’s opener.
Like against Sociedad, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ten Hag deploy Casemiro and Eriksen from the start against Sheriff on Thursday.