EPL Index
·24 September 2024
EPL Index
·24 September 2024
Manchester United begin their Europa League journey this week with a home fixture against Dutch side FC Twente. While Erik ten Hag’s team have been drawn into an eye-catching group that features former United manager José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and Rangers, the opener against Twente is expected to be a more straightforward challenge.
Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024 Kick-Off: 8:00 PM BST Venue: Old Trafford
United fans will be hoping for a confident start, as Ten Hag’s side looks to build momentum in Europe. The fixture also has a personal connection for Ten Hag, who played for Twente early in his career before transitioning into management.
Luke Shaw remains sidelined with a calf injury, and although his recovery is progressing well, he’s still a few weeks away from returning. Victor Lindelof is also unavailable. However, Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund are back in contention, giving Ten Hag more attacking options. Alejandro Garnacho was preferred over Marcus Rashford in United’s recent goalless draw with Crystal Palace, which suggests a decision will need to be made about who starts on the left flank.
FC Twente have no new injury problems. Long-term absentees Michal Sadílek and Younes Taha remain unavailable, leaving the Dutch side thin on squad depth for this tricky away encounter.
Despite some inconsistencies in their domestic performances, Manchester United will go into this clash as overwhelming favourites. Twente, who have endured a slow start to their own season, are seen as underdogs but could still provide a stern test for the Premier League giants.
Remarkably, this will be the first competitive meeting between Manchester United and FC Twente, adding an extra layer of intrigue to what is already a must-watch tie.
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