Manchester United kick-off their Europa League campaign by welcoming Dutch side FC Twente to Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Given the quality in the Premier League and United’s stuttering form, this year’s European run could represent Erik ten Hag’s best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Therefore, he will want his side to get off to a strong start on home soil and solidify their place as one of the favourites for the competition.
However, Twente will travel to Manchester full of confidence after an impressive start in the Eredivisie.
Ten Hag will stick with his favoured set-up and is likely to name a strong side, hoping his attacking players can catch fire to secure the three points early.
United slammed seven past League One Barnsley in the Carabao Cup but have been otherwise wasteful with chances they have created so far this season.
This will need to change quickly if United are to have a successful campaign and Wednesday night should provide them an opportunity to get some confidence back in front of goal.
Ten Hag will continue to use Joshua Zirkzee in his self-professed 9.5 position, with his link-up play impressing despite his profligacy in front of goal.
Keeping the Dutchman involved in the game should allow space in wide areas, with United’s wingmen continuing to look like the most likely players to find the net.
Bruno Fernandes should work close to Zirkzee and if the duo can link-up to pull around the Twente back line, gaps will open up for United to exploit.
Feeding the ball into the feet of the pair should be a fruitful task for United’s deeper midfielders, given the space the Old Trafford pitch affords.
It’ll then be down to how calm United’s players can be in front of goal. There was a wave of confidence once the floodgates opened against Barnsley and United’s front men need to find that mindspace tomorrow.
One major improvement in this campaign has come in the solidity United are showing as a team and the defensive set up has been a far cry from the ragged nature of a lot of performances last term.
Therefore, United should have little issue in dealing with the relatively modest threat from Twente and comfortably build their base to start their attacking plays from.
An early goal should lead to a stress-free night under the lights at the Theatre of Dreams, kicking off this year’s European journey and building some much needed confidence for the visit of Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Feature image Harriet Lander via Getty Images
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