da leao： Manchester United know they need just a point against Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine on Thursday night to guarantee their qualification to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
da bet nacional： While the Red Devils have been victorious in all of their Group A fixtures at Old Trafford, defeats away at Feyenoord and Fenerbahce mean that their fate is still to be decided, and another loss on their travels could spell the end of their European campaign.
Things haven’t been going well for Jose Mourinho’s men in the Premier League, with the 1-1 draw against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday being their fourth in their last five matches, which has left them in sixth position in the table and 13 points behind leaders Chelsea.
They are also nine points from the Champions League spots and winning the Europa League could prove to be their best chance of reaching Europe’s premier competition next term on current form.
Here is FootballFanCast’s United XI that should get past Zorya…
GK: Sergio Romero
The Argentine stopper has made three appearances for Man United this season, and with two of those coming in the Europa League – including the home match against Zorya Luhansk – he should get the nod in Ukraine, especially with Mourinho’s men hosting Tottenham on Sunday.
Romero secured two clean sheets in those Europa League fixtures, and keeping a third would be enough to see the Red Devils through to the knockout stages of the competition.
RB: Matteo Darmian
As we mentioned previously, with United facing a big match against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday, Mourinho could choose to rest Antonio Valencia for a fixture that United need only a draw from, which could mean that Darmian is given a rare start in his preferred right-back spot.
The Italian played on the left-hand side against Everton on Sunday, but he should revert to the opposite side in Ukraine, where he will look to offer the side an attacking threat, as well as staying solid defensively.
CB: Eric Bailly
After missing more than a month of action because of a knee injury suffered in the 4-0 defeat at Chelsea in October, Bailly was back on the substitutes’ bench for the clash against Everton and he could well be given a start at Zorya as he looks to get his match fitness back.
Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have started the last five matches at centre-back, but at least one of them is likely to be rested with the Spurs match in Mourinho’s mind. Bailly should be the man to step in.
CB: Marcos Rojo
The Argentine defender has started the last five matches alongside Phil Jones at the heart of United’s defence because of injuries to the likes of Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling, and he could be named in the line-up again for the trip to Ukraine.
Rojo was fortunate not to be red-carded for a two-footed tackle on Everton’s Idrissa Gueye on Sunday, and he will need to be more disciplined for what could be another tough away trip for the Red Devils in Europe.
LB: Daley Blind
Luke Shaw has often been preferred at left-back in Europa League matches this term, but with the England international having picked up a knock, Mourinho might not want to risk him for the trip to Ukraine.
Blind has played in a number of positions during his United career, but he could find himself in his more familiar left-sided role in Eastern Europe.
He was an unused substitute against Everton which should mean that he has the energy to make an impact at both ends of the pitch at Zorya.
CM: Ander Herrera
With the likes of Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini to choose from in central midfield, Herrera has found first-team minutes hard to come by at points this season.
However, the Spaniard started in the draw with Everton on Sunday, and he could be given the nod in the middle of the park again on Thursday night with Carrick – and maybe even Paul Pogba – getting rested ahead of the clash against his former team Tottenham at Old Trafford this weekend.
CM: Marouane Fellaini
Fellaini was public enemy number one for United fans on Sunday after clumsily giving away a last minute penalty in the 1-1 draw against Everton on his 100th appearance for the club.
The Belgian midfielder was brought on help protect his side’s lead and to deal with the Toffees’ direct play, but his mistake saw the Red Devils drop two points.
Fellaini will be desperate to put things right and he may well get the chance in Ukraine as he seems to be more suited to European matches.
RAM: Jesse Lingard
After starting the season in the XI, Lingard has found first-team minutes harder to come by in recent weeks and he has often been sat on the substitutes’ bench.
However, with United needing only a draw in Zorya and with the Ukrainian side taking just two points from their five Europa League group matches, Lingard should be given the opportunity to impress and put himself in contention for a start against Spurs.
CAM: Wayne Rooney
The former Everton man was suspended for his current club’s 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday, and that break from action should see him reinstated into the starting XI on Thursday night.
The England captain is just one goal short of matching Sir Bobby Charlton’s total of 249 for United, and he will want to match and beat that as soon as possible, as well as adding to the 39 times he has netted in Europe – another club record.
LAM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Jose Mourinho deemed the Armenia international unready to play for United’s first-team following a disappointing display in the defeat to Manchester City in September, but Mkhitaryan has certainly proved he can cut it in recent weeks and he will hope to provide the spark the club needs in Ukraine.
The attacking midfielder was named as the Man of the Match in the wins against Feyenoord and West Ham in the Europa League and EFL Cup respectively, while he also impressed against Everton, too.
ST: Anthony Martial
The arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer has limited Martial’s time on the pitch this term, but he should be given the chance to impress in the striker’s spot in Ukraine.
The French forward comes into this Europa League clash in good form having scored twice in the 4-1 win against West Ham in the EFL Cup last week, while he also assisted Ibrahimovic for his strike against Everton on Sunday.