Manchester United have included Jesse Lingard, Eric Bailly and Juan Mata on their team to play Norwich City in the FA Cup quarterfinals tonight.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made eight changes to the team that beat Sheffield United in the Premier League midweek, with only Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes remaining on the side.
In addition to Lingard, Bailly and Mata, Sergio Romero, Diogo Dalot, Fred, Scott McTominay and Odion Ighalo start on Carrow Road.
Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood are among those on the bench, along with Anthony Martial, who got a hat-trick on Wednesday night. Nemanja Matic and David de Gea are also among the substitutes, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is not on the team of the day.
Solskjaer spoke about the importance of the cup to United’s season at his pre-game press conference as he searches for his first silverware since taking office at Old Trafford.
“The FA Cup is fantastic,” said Solskjaer. “When you are a kid at home, it was always the last game, the climax of the season, the game you expected, the one that was broadcast live on television in Norway.”
“That goal against [against Liverpool in 1999] It was probably my best moment in the FA Cup, apart from climbing steps in old Wembley to get my medal. I played [a part] on the first goal in final 99, winning the ball. That was a moment of pride for me. My dad was in the stands.
“I’ve raised it twice as a player. I hope I get a chance to come back out at Wembley. It’s a fantastic tournament, it’s always been the biggest. I’m not sure that today’s youngsters really understand what it means, but our players realize it. “
United XI: Romero Dalot, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Mata, Fernandes, Lingard; Ighalo
Subs: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah, Williams, Martial, Rashford, Pogba, Greenwood, Pereira, Matic.
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