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Otherwise, having Dorgu back should make a difference. He gives the team balance, also bringing the pace and strength it so severely lacks, and his intelligence on and off the ball might be important tonight – already, he looks to be building an understanding with Bruno Fernandes.
Ahead of that, I imagine Garnacho will play from the right, as he gives United a bit of width on that flank – he has the ability to go on the outside – withe the improving but still lacking Zirkzee operating as the left 10.
So that United team, then. I’m a little surprised Manuel Ugarte hasn’t come in for Casemiro, though he did fairly well against Arsenal, because United might want his scavenging ahead of the ball. Otherwise, though, it makes sense that it’s Heaven not Lindelöf: Heaven played well against Arsenal and has the physicality and pace to defend wide areas behind the wing-back, as well as being decent in the air and on the ball. Given neither De Ligt nor Mazraoui can run, United would look (extra-)vulnerable with a third defender unable to sprint.
More on that in a minute – we’re watching an interview with Amorim, who says he’s got a good relationship with Jim Ratcliffe, who enjoys being told to “fuck off” by him. . They’re both blunt, he explains, before going on to say he thinks it’s funny that you’ll be able to see United’s new ground from Liverpool, he’s pleased about that. He wants to take the club into it, but he’s focused on winning in the old one.
Imanol Alguacil, meanwhile, makes three changes: out go Benat Turrientes, replaced by Zubimendi; Luka Sučić, whose spot goes to Pablo Marin; and
Ander Barrenetxea, giving way to Sheraldo Becker.
Ruben Amorim makes three changes to the side that wasn’t that dreadful against Arsenal: Leny Yoro is injured, replaced by Ayden Heaven, only recently signed from Arsenal and making his first start; Patrick Dorgu, suspended in the league, replaces Victor Lindelöf; and Rasmus Højlund is in for Christian Eriksen.
I’m going to write these down, then we’ll wonder what they might mean.
Teams!
Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Heaven; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee; Hojlund. Subs: Harrison, Mee, Amass, Fredricson, Lindelof, Collyer, Eriksen, Fletcher, Ugarte, Scanlon.
Real Sociedad (4-3-3): Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Marin, Zubimendi, Mendez; Becker, Oyarzabal, Kubo. Subs: Marrero, Barrenetxea, Oskarsson, Lopez, Olasagasti, Gomez, Traore, Aramburu, Turrientes, Martin, Beitia, Mariezkurrena.
Referee: Benoît Bastien (France)
Preamble
The humans among us tend to operate on two, often competing levels: rational and emotional. Occasionally, though, these two aspects coalesce, which is where Manchester United find themselves tonight: they must progress tonight because they must finance yet another rebuild for yet another manager, and they must progress tonight because the alternative promises two months of unrelenting misery. Football, it’s like life, yeah?
Both sides will know that really, this tie should already be over – United’s superiority in the first 70 minutes of the first leg ought to have seen them build a near-unassailable lead. But they didn’t, of course they didn’t, instead giving away a freakish penalty after which Sociedad might’ve won as their visitors folded in predictable fashion. And now, with Martin Zubimendi back and Mikel Oyarzabal unlikely to play as poorly again, they arrive at Old Trafford with every chance.
Ah, Old Trafford. United have struggled badly at home this season – yes, and away – so much so that they’ve opted to kick away from the Stretford End in each of the last three games. Just as well, perhaps, given we learnt earlier this week that it’s not long for this world, the old place likely be replaced by the world’s largest circus tent; sometimes the hilarity writes itself.
In the meantime, though, we’re all set for a night of desperate tension and terrible entertainment. Football, it’s like life, yeah?
Kick-off: 8pm GMT
