After completing the formalities of their last 16 tie against LASK, Manchester United‘s focus is now on maintaining their momentum for their Europa League quarter-final clash with Copenhagen.
Following their strong form towards the end of the campaign, United have been installed as the bookies’ favourites to win the competition for the second time in four seasons.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his side will be confident of progressing to the final four against a side that finished second in the Danish Super Liga and are in the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time.
Other than Luke Shaw and backup defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones, Solskjaer has a full complement of players to select from for the game in Cologne.
Defence
It is in defence where Solskjaer has his most pressing selection concerns. Sergio Romero has been United’s main ‘keeper in the Europa League, featuring in eight of their ten games this campaign.
The Argentine is considered to be one of the better No2’s in the Premier League but he has been unable to usurp David De Gea despite the Spaniard’s inconsistent form.
Discussing the goalkeeper situation, Solskjaer said: “I think I must be the most privileged manager in the world with the goalkeeping department. Sergio, David and Dean [Henderson]. Three top ‘keepers.”
When asked whether it would be difficult to decide who starts in goal: “Difficult [decision]? Yes. But that’s a good problem to have.”
Solskjaer also confirmed that Brandon Williams will deputise for Shaw at left-back, saying that it was a ‘great achievement’ for the 19-year-old to play in a European quarter-final.
First-choice regulars Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire are all available and expected to start.
Midfield
With the tie settled from the first leg, Solskjaer took the opportunity to give Scott McTominay and Fred some much-needed minutes against LASK with Paul Pogba coming off the bench.
On Pogba, Solskjaer said: “We’re delighted he’s back playing, he’s fit, he’s enjoying his football, he’s got to make up for lost time and he’s doing that.
“He’s training extra, always a great personality around the place and hopefully, we can see him lift this trophy as he has done before.”
Pogba formed a solid midfield partnership with Nemanja Matic during the final weeks of the Premier League campaign and they will likely be recalled in order to create space for Bruno Fernandes higher up the pitch.
The Portuguese playmaker has been phenomenal in this season’s Europa League, scoring six times and providing a further four assists in eight games for United and former club Sporting CP combined.
Attack
Solskjaer named the same front four in each of United’s final eight Premier League games of the season and it would be a surprise if he decides to rotate any of his attackers against Copenhagen.
Anthony Martial was in scintillating form during the season run-in, scoring six goals in his last eight matches including United’s first Premier League hat-trick in seven years against Sheffield United.
Solskjaer talked up the Frenchman’s development this season, saying that he has ‘made huge strides in many aspects of his game’ and that physically he is at the ‘best level of his career’ after Martial scored a late winner off the bench against Lask on Wednesday night.
Martial was ably assisted by Marcus Rashford and Young Player of the Year nominee Mason Greenwood on the flanks after the Premier League’s resumption, the former providing three goals and the latter five.
It was also in the Europa League that Greenwood first demonstrated he could make the step up into the first-team as he has scored five times in only seven appearances in the competition this season.
Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams; Pogba, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
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