MANCHESTER UNITED
Predicted Man United starting line-up vs Nottingham Forest as Erik ten Hag targets Carabao Cup final
Predicted Man United starting line-up vs Nottingham Forest as Erik ten Hag targets Carabao Cup final
Erik ten Hag has a couple of selection headache to make ahead of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg clash against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford
Manchester United are looking to book their place in the Carabao Cup final when they face Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday evening.
Erik ten Hag’s side hold a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg at the City Ground thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes, which means the Red Devils have one foot in the final.
United are expected to field a strong leg for the clash despite losing Christian Eriksen for at least three months with an ankle issue. There have been suggestions that Ten Hag could rest his key stars and reduce the risk of picking up further injuries given the Red Devils’ hectic fixture schedule.
However, it doesn’t look like there will many alterations to the XI that beat Reading in the FA Cup as United try and secure their place in the final. Here is how United could line up on Wednesday night.
Goalkeeper
David de Gea is set to keep his place in net, although Tom Heaton is pushing for recall to the XI. The latter started United’s quarter-final clash against Charlton, but Ten Hag returned to De Gea for the trip to Forest and the Spaniard is likely to continue.
Defence
In defence, Ten Hag could stick with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back as he has made that position his own since the World Cup break. Diogo Dalot is nursing an injury, which has allowed the former Crystal Palace defender to slot in, and he has impressed in that role since.
Predicting the two centre-backs is arguably the toughest call, with Ten Hag keen to shuffle between the four senior options, but Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez could start together for just the second time since November. There is no doubt that is Ten Hag’s preferred partnership and he may use that against Forest, with Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire on the bench.
At left-back, it feels like it is a 50/50 call between Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. But after starting in the last two matches, Dutchman Malacia could drop down to the bench to allow Shaw to come back into the side.
Midfield
After it was confirmed that Christian Eriksen will at least three months through a serious ankle injury, Ten Hag will have to make at least one change from the win over Reading. It makes perfect sense for Fred to slot straight into that void, having impressed from the bench against the Royals.
with the evergreen Bruno Fernandes ahead of them. The Portuguese playmaker scored the Red Devils’ third last Wednesday with a fine strike.
Attack
Like the defence, this was another tricky area of the team to predict. Antony is facing competition from Facundo Pellistri on the right wing, but the former has improved in recent weeks and needs game time to build up his confidence heading into an important period for the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, Anthony Martial is back fit after recovering from an injury and could force himself back into the side, but Weghorst has shown positive signs since arriving on loan from Burnley and scored last week. Marcus Rashford has played every game since the restart and it would make sense to give him a rare rest.
Man Utd predicted XI in full vs Forest: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes, Antony, Weghorst, Garnacho.
MANCHESTER UNITED
“That particular player was the reason we sacked Erik ten Hag and I have warned Ruud van Nistelrooy to avoid using him.
“That particular player was the reason we sacked Erik ten Hag and I have warned Ruud van Nistelrooy to avoid using him, If he breached the instructions then it will be over for him also”: Sir Jim Ratchliffe warns new Man United’s manager to avoid using ONE player who was the reason Erik ten Hag was sacked
Erik ten Hag has become the fifth Man United manager to be sacked in the last decade with the new club chiefs left unimpressed with his results this calendar year.
The Dutchman won two trophies in two seasons but guided United to their lowest Premier League finish last term. He was kept on by the new board this summer following an end-of-season review.”
However, having won just three of his first nine league games this campaign, Ten Hag has been relieved of his duties after 128 games as manager. Step-in caretaker Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge while a permanent successor is sourced.
Van Nistelrooy becomes the ninth different figure – temporary or permanent – to lead the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. He follows Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick in being among the Scot’s former players to take charge of United.
Earlier this month, Sir Jim Ratcliffe informed Ferguson that he would be relinquishing his role of club ambassador at the end of the season. It is thought the move is part of his cost-cutting exercises at the club, having already sanctioned the redundancies of 250 staff members this year.
However, the 72-year-old – who wishes to see United build a new 100,000-seater Old Trafford – has made clear that decisions regarding the first-team manager are not within his remit.
Asked about the future of Ten Hag earlier this month, Ratcliffe deflected: “I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.”
Ratcliffe oversaw a revamp of the United boardroom this summer, with old figures ushered out and new top brass headhunted. Former Manchester City chief Omar Berrada was announced as the club’s new CEO in January while technical director Jason Wilcox was pinched from Southampton.
United had to fork out compensation to Newcastle United when acquiring sporting director Dan Ashworth, who insisted that the decision to keep Ten Hag was made before his summer arrival. United will lose around £17million in sacking compensation to Ten Hag.
Ineos sporting chief Sir Dave Brailsford and Ineos CEO Jean-Claude Blanc are also on the board while Christopher Vivell sits as director of global talent.
While clarifying his role in the managerial turnover process, Ratcliffe urged the boardroom to “to take stock and make some sensible decisions,” having “not been there a long time.”
He underscored: “Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.”
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club statement…
Club statement…
Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.
Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Ten Hag out!! Predicted Man United line up under Xavi Hernandez – as INEOS set to sack Ten Hag if He fails to deliver West Ham game tomorrow
Ten Hag out!! Predicted Man United line up under Xavi Hernandez – as INEOS set to sack Ten Hag if He fails to deliver West Ham game tomorrow
Barcelona legend Xavi has made his stance on Manchester United clear amid reports linking him as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag as manager at Old Trafford. Ten Hag is under mounting pressure following a lackluster start to the season, with his side winning only three of their first eight Premier League matches.
This disappointing run has fueled speculation about his future, and names like former England manager Gareth Southgate, Brentford boss Thomas Frank, and Xavi have all surfaced as potential replacements.
Xavi’s thoughts on Manchester United have resurfaced from a past interview, providing some insight into his view of the club.
Speaking after Barcelona’s Europa League tie against Manchester United in 2023, the former Barca midfielder expressed respect for the Red Devils and praised Ten Hag for the progress he had made with the team. “I think Manchester is coming back, and they showed their best,” Xavi said in an interview with TNT Sport. “We need to be proud.
I think both teams are more or less in the same moment, in the same position, that we are coming back. I said to Ten Hag now, ‘Congratulations,’ because he’s doing very well and they are Manchester United.”
Xavi’s remarks reflected his belief that both Barcelona and United were in periods of rebuilding, with the potential to reestablish themselves as top contenders in Europe.
He even hinted that future meetings between the two clubs could happen in the latter stages of the Champions League. His praise for United and Ten Hag has now taken on new relevance as discussions about his potential move to the Premier League intensify.
Reports have emerged suggesting that Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada traveled to Spain for two rounds of talks with Xavi to explore the possibility of bringing him to Old Trafford.
However, it seems that Xavi, who is currently enjoying some time away from the game, is not interested in cutting his break short. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the 44-year-old has no intention of returning to management just yet, even if it means passing up a significant opportunity with a club as prestigious as Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag has addressed the ongoing rumors surrounding his job, expressing frustration with the media’s portrayal of his situation. Before United’s recent 2-1 win over Brentford, Ten Hag dismissed the speculation, calling it “noise” created by the press. “Noise is only coming from some of you [media], creating stories and fairytales, bringing lies,” he said.
Ten Hag emphasized that while the team is unhappy with its current position in the league, they remain calm and confident in their plan. He assured that despite the speculation, he believes success will come under his leadership.
The situation leaves Manchester United in a state of uncertainty, with Ten Hag fighting to keep his position amid a difficult run of form, while Xavi, one of the names floated as a possible successor, seems uninterested in taking over at this time. As rumors continue to swirl, both the club and its fans await further developments.
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