Manchester United will be looking for another impressive display as they face FC Copenhagen in the Europa League quarter-finals on Monday night.
United are only looking to reach their second European semi-final since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, and they did so in 2016-17 when they went on to win the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
The side of Ole Gunnar Solskjær knows that they can not pay concentration time if they face their Danish opponents over a one-leg, with the winners going away to the semi-finals.
In terms of early team news, both Diogo Dalot and Victor Lindelof are back in controversy for United, but Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and Luke Shaw missed it.
Below, our MEN United writers choose their teams to go to Copenhagen.
Rich Fay
United have used the Europa League as a platform to rotate their squad all season, but with the competition now their only focus, Monday night should be a return to the strongest side possible.
Romero gets the nod for De Gea in goal on form as well as his cup role, while Bailly’s partner Maguire with Lindelof would still not be fit from the start.
Fred and McTominay did not take their chances against LASK last week, so it should be a return to the proven trio that has starred so regularly since football restarted two months ago.
At the front, there is argument for Mata and Lingard to function, but their roles should be off the bench with Greenwood, Rashford and Martial the best attack available.
Marcus Banks
United’s performance against LASK was not spectacular, but they got the job done. More importantly, the game proved Solskjaer what he is strongest XI.
McTominay and Fred made no impact, which means Matic and Pogba will have to return. Bruno Fernandes should also be weird to go after a very demanding rest.
Lingard performed admirably and was reluctant to replace, but both Rashford and Greenwood could not be overlooked based on recent form. Martial is also playing at the top of his game and will be desperate for more goals.
Samuel Luckhurst
Romero is the deserved starter and recalls that David de Gea would cause fractures, in that it would suggest that he remain the No.1 for next season when Dean Henderson comes on his shot.
Bar Romero and Brandon Williams, they are United’s first XI picks. Not one of the starters against LASK Linz did anything last week to remotely suggest they should start tonight and almost any change from the outside makes United weaker.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford have not played in 15 days and that should be seen as a plus.
Choose your team to go to Copenhagen with the selector above.
.
