Manchester United have confirmed their line up to face Real Sociedad in the Europa LeagueManchester United have confirmed their line up to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League
Manchester United have confirmed their line up to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League | Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd confirmed line up and team news to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League last 16.
Manchester United have made three changes to the starting line up to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League last 16 this evening. Patrick Dorgu comes into the line up as his three-match ban does not impact European matches, while Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho also start.
Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte did not travel to Spain after they picked up 'minor injury issues' after the defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup last weekend, while Christian Eriksen is named on a reduced bench for the clash.
United were able to name a 23-man squad for the Europa League clash but have only taken 18 players to Spain. It means they have just seven players on the bench instead of the allocated 12 substitutes, two of which are goalkeepers who have never made a competitive appearance for the club before. Toby Collyer returns to the squad after almost two months out due to injury.
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Ruben Amorim explains Manchester United line up
Ruben Amorim has named a Manchester United starting line up that was very easy to predict due to the fewer players available for the clash. United are without 11 senior stars against Real Sociedad after it was revealed this week teenage Chido Obi was not eligible to feature in their European campaign.
Speaking ahead of kick-off, Amorim explained his selection: “It's really important,” he told TNT Sports. “We don't have a lot of options, but they are ready. We try to manage the load these three days. I know that in the second half we will feel it a little bit, but we are excited to be here and we can deal with the physicality of the game. We need to be really strong, especially in the beginning of the game. It’s going to be really intense so we choose the team thinking about that also."
When asked what United would need to do well to record a good result in the first leg of the tie, he added: “Possession of the ball. I think I am talking about that all the time. If we have the ball it’s impossible to score against us. We need to be careful when we have the ball. If we lose the ball in the build-up, they are really strong and really fast to go to the goal. So we are prepared for that, we know that but we need to improve the way we have possession and create situations. That is the main focus to this game.”
Rasmus Hojlund could shine vs Real Sociedad
It is now 18 games without a goal across all competitions but he has been selected to lead the line against Real Sociedad tonight. Manchester United don’t have any other options with Chido Obi eligible to play and Joshua Zirkzee repurposed as an attacking midfielder, but Ruben Amorim insists he has faith in the forward regardless of the lack of competition for his place.
"I think it's a good game for him,” he told TNT Sports. “They are really brave for the pressure and play a high line. He can use his pace to help us reach the goal. He needs to enjoy football again and stay focused on the small things. He will be okay.”
United XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro; Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee, Hojlund. Subs: Harrison, Mee, Amass, Heaven, Lindelof, Collyer, Eriksen.
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