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
“He needs to go now ” Man Utd sent clear Erik ten Hag sack message as Star players calls for a change
“He needs to go now ” Man Utd sent clear Erik ten Hag sack message as Star players calls for a change
Matthijs de Ligt has sent an indirect message to the Manchester United hierarchy amid uncertainty about Erik ten Hag’s status as manager. De Ligt reunited with Ten Hag at Old Trafford in the summer and appears to have made it clear that he would prefer to continue working with the Dutchman.
He is no stranger to experiencing a coaching change across his spells at Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich, and Ineos could enforce the latest as early as next week.
Ten Hag is under severe pressure, having overseen just three wins in United’s opening 10 matches of the season after a largely woeful second campaign.
A poor result in Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa could prove fatal, with patience among the fanbase on the brink of collapse.
United bosses are scheduled to meet in London less than 48 hours after the Premier League clash at Villa Park, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer among the planned attendees.
But De Ligt has publicly suggested that he would prefer the club to stick with Ten Hag so he can enjoy a longer-term relationship with one of his coaches.
“To be fair, it’s quite funny because in my career, I’ve never had a trainer for longer than one and a half seasons,” De Ligt told Sky Sports.
“So this is something that I hope I can have now, that I have a trainer or a manager who stays longer with me as a player so you can grow more together also.”
De Ligt has featured more under Ten Hag than any other manager in his career, being selected 78 times at Ajax and United.
The next highest totals belong to Thomas Tuchel and Massimiliano Allegri, but at just 42, it’s easy to see why the 25-year-old is seeking stability.
United would likely prefer to retain faith in Ten Hag after concluding a search for a worthy replacement in the summer by extending his contract by one year until 2026.
Ratcliffe also sanctioned around £200million in transfers to bolster the Dutchman’s squad, including the £43m deal for De Ligt.
However, a failure to win at Villa could leave United as many as nine points adrift of the top four and closer to rock-bottom than the Champions League spots.
A fourth defeat in seven league games could make Ten Hag’s position untenable and leave De Ligt temporarily coach-less again.
The centre-back’s status may also be in doubt after a dismal showing at Porto on Thursday, with last-gasp hero Harry Maguire knocking on the door.
Predicted Manchester United XI vs Aston Villa: Hojlund leads the attack
Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United celebrates with his team mate Lisandro Martínez after scores his team second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between FC Porto and Manchester United at Estadio do Dragao on October 3, 2024 in Porto, Portugal.
There is a lot on the line this weekend when Manchester United visit Aston Villa in the Premier League.
The Reds need three points after a slow start to the season and Erik ten Hag is walking a tightrope to keep his job after Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to back him when asked about the manager’s situation in a recent interview.
Aston Villa go into the game after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League, so both teams come into the game with completely contrasting situations at play.
Ten Hag’s side have won just six in 20 Premier League matches. That record must change if he is to keep his job.
Manchester United predicted XI vs Aston Villa
Andre Onana has shown better form this season, despite United struggling to get results. The Cameroon international will start between the sticks.
Ten Hag will stick with his favourite back four, although they let him down on Thursday night by conceding three goals against Porto.
There are question marks over Kobbie Mainoo’s fitness after he withdrew from the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham with a knock that forced him out of the Porto tie. He trained on Friday and should feature at some point against Villa. However, we’re going to opt for more protection by starting Casemiro alongside Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes is available after United successfully appealed his three-match domestic ban due to a wrongful dismissal against Tottenham.
The front three will consist of Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford. Hojlund got back on the scoresheet against Porto and will be hungry to add to his tally.
Predicted Manchester United XI vs Aston Villa: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugare, Casemiro, Fernandes; Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford.
MANCHESTER UNITED
“Drop them both” Manchester United fans blames two players for loss against Porto and demand they are dropped and tell Erik ten Hag who should replace both
“Drop them both”
Manchester United fans blames two players for loss against Porto and demand they are dropped and tell Erik ten Hag who should replace both
Manchester United fans are demanding two players are dropped after a horror show in the 3-3 Europa League draw against Porto.
United were 2-0 up and flying 20 minutes thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund.
But Pepe reduced the deficit for the hosts before 20-year-old striker Samu Omorodion struck twice to complete a remarkable turnaround.
The former Atletico Madrid man bullied Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt at the Estadio do Dragao.
The former Ajax defenders appeared to establish themselves as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice pairing in the early parts of the season but both were all over the place on Thursday.
They were so poor in fact, that both were hooked for Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in the 77th minute with United 3-2 down.
Maguire scored a stoppage-time equaliser to save Ten Hag’s bacon and fans want changes at the heart of the backline.
They cannot wait for £52 million summer signing Leny Yoro to return from injury and believe partnering the 18-year-old with Maguire is the way to go.
One said: “Chuckle brothers to start at Villa Park on Sunday. Drop De Ligt & Martinez.”
A second person agreed: “De Ligt cannot start on Sunday. Martinez will be lucky to start on Sunday.”
A third commented: “Get Leny Yoro back man.”
A fourth opined: “Leny Yoro can’t come back soon enough. First choice pairing should be him and Maguire until Martinez and De Ligt get their s**t together.
A fifth user wrote: “I need me a Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire partnership.”
A final person posted: “Sir Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans have to be our staring CB parting from here on out until Leny Yoro comes back.”
Winless in their last four games and currently 13th in the Premier League, United travel to Aston Villa on Sunday for a huge clash.
Pressure continues to pile on Ten Hag and it’s emerged that INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be in attendance at Villa Park.
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