Manchester United will take on their most important game of the season when they host Real Sociedad in the second leg of the Europa League tie.
Having come back from Spain with a well-deserved 1-1 draw that could’ve been a win, the focus is on exorcising the nightmares at the Theatre of Dreams.
For all their slip-ups in the league, Man Utd have been fairly consistent in Europe, with the slower pace of the game favouring the squad.
Ahead of the second tie, Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil talked about Ruben Amorim’s team, saying what they did recently didn’t ‘surprise him’.
Photo by Zohaib Alam - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Real Sociedad manager on Man Utd
This is not Sociedad’s first rodeo against United, with Imanol Alguacil facing Erik ten Hag in 2022 as well, a game famous for Ten Hag’s three-word plea that still rings true today.
Therefore, Alguacil is a coach who knows United well, regardless of the manager at the helm, something he stressed recently.
Speaking to the press ahead of the second leg, he urged everyone to look beyond United’s league position in England, backing their credentials.
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He said that he ‘wasn’t surprised’ seeing United hold Arsenal to a draw in their previous fixture, feeling vindicated about calling them a ‘great team’.
Alguacil said (via Mundo Deportivo): Like in the first leg, we’re going to see a super competitive team. I wasn’t surprised by what they did at Anoeta.
“I said they were a great team; it’s no coincidence that Arsenal weren’t able to win here. This means the team is working well.”
Man Utd are favourites vs Sociedad
It won’t be exaggeration to say that out of all the teams remaining in the Europa League, United have the strongest squad on paper.
The only thing that can stop them from going all the way is self-inflicted damage, or a meeting with a Premier League team (Spurs remain but on the precipice after losing to AZ in the first leg).
The pace of European games suits United far more than the intensely physical Premier League, with players like Casemiro enjoying the space provided to them.
Needless to say, they will be favourites to progress against Sociedad as well, something which Alguacil has been at pains to stress to his players to avoid complacency.
Amorim will try to do the same to keep his players switched on.