It’s Bilbao or bust for Manchester United this season and the next stop on their possible path to the Europa League final is a trip to Lyon on Thursday.
The competition offers not only the last chance to salvage silverware from a wretched season but is also now vital to their hopes of playing in Europe again next season — and their finances.
A goalless draw in the derby against City on Sunday at least showed Ruben Amorim’s team can be solid in his chosen formation, but before one of the biggest games of his reign so far our writers debate who he should start in France.
Zirkzee in, Fernandes back in midfield
I tried to be too clever last time we did this and got put in my place by you lot so here’s a nice, vanilla line-up with only a couple of sprinkles of interest.
My only change from Sunday’s XI is Joshua Zirkzee in for Manuel Ugarte, although that moves Bruno Fernandes back into midfield and shifts Alejandro Garnacho into the right-sided No 10 role.
Amorim has preferred Fernandes as one of the No 10s over the last two outings, but he was just as influential from deeper before the international break, while Garnacho was scoring and assisting from the right. Casemiro’s form gets him in ahead of Ugarte.
This is essentially the line-up that started the 4-1 second-leg win against Real Sociedad, only with Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire replacing the injured Ayden Heaven and Matthijs de Ligt respectively.
It brought one of United’s best performances of the season, on the most important night of their campaign to date. Same again on Thursday, then.
Mark Critchley
Starting Mount
Mark’s mention of vanilla and sprinkles has got me wanting an ice cream in this glorious Manchester sunshine, but first to the sweet business of predicting a line-up for what is surely the biggest game yet in Amorim’s tenure.
Although the Europa League has been a happier place for Rasmus Hojlund, his ineffective display against Manchester City prompts thoughts of a reshuffle, and while it may be soon in Mount’s recovery programme he showed enough in 20 minutes on Sunday to suggest he is worthy of a start.
He was tenacious off the ball and had quality on it. Off the back of an almost immediate impact from the bench at Nottingham Forest — where his shot whistled just wide — playing him behind the striker could be worthwhile in Lyon. Mount has European pedigree, having won the Champions League with Chelsea, and is clearly champing at the bit to increase his minutes.
It would allow Hojlund to be an impact substitute, while potentially giving United more control of possession, given Mount’s technical abilities. Zirkzee starting after his effective cameo against City has merit too, and that means Ugarte dropping to the bench amid a poorer run of form for him. Fernandes has been pretty good in a deeper role.
Laurie Whitwell
Casemiro and Ugarte the safe bet
People think vanilla is a boring flavour but good vanilla is a safe, quality bet and that’s what I’ve gone with for the away leg.
You could go more attacking with Fernandes as a No 6 and Zirkzee as a No 10 but this Lyon side have plenty of attacking threat and United will need to be as compact as they were against Manchester City on Sunday.
I’m putting Ugarte and Casemiro in midfield with the hope that they will be defensively astute, position themselves smartly, intercept at the right moment and have the legs to just keep going. Casemiro is in a fine run of form and he needs to replicate that again on Thursday.
Where United can hurt Lyon is by exploiting their defensive instability. Garnacho will need to make runs in behind and on the wing to drag Lyon out of position.
The same applies for Hojlund who is more inclined to run off the defenders’ shoulders and stretch the backline whereas Zirkzee’s strength lies in his hold-up play. The Dutchman can then be used as an impact substitute to inject energy as the game goes on.
Charlotte Harpur
Zirkzee, Garnacho and Fernandes in attack
Andre Onana hasn’t conceded more than once for seven games now and is adaptable enough to change tactics mid-game: he started hitting long balls late in the last Europa League away game. It’s doubtful that Luke Shaw is ready to start, so Yoro stays for a trip back to his homeland on the left of a back three.
Maguire’s return was timely against City given De Ligt (who had been playing well) was absent after turning his ankle and Mazraoui is another steady Eddie on the right of the three.
Same as against Real Sociedad — Dorgu on the left. United use their wide men to try and get behind full-backs and Dalot can do the same from the right as United try to break defensive lines.
Ugarte brings balance and legs and closes down space that former Man Utd man Nemanja Matic will revel in but won’t run into. Ugarte was influential away to Lyon in Ligue 1 for Paris Saint-Germain last season (two assists) and it’s better to have a midfield two for the away leg, with Fernandes, United’s best and most in-form player, more advanced.
That means alongside him is Casemiro, who is playing his best football of a poor season. He’s been better in Europe and was decent against Real Sociedad. He’s playing for his place now with Kobbie Mainoo returning, but his experience and protection at the front of the defensive line is key.
I’ve chosen Zirkzee over Hojlund in the centre. He’s effective at holding the ball up, dropping back and finding space between the lines, and pulling defenders with him. Hojlund can always come on.
And finally it’s Garnacho. His end product must improve, but he’ll attack from the right. Or the left.
Andy Mitten
Let us know whose line-up you would choose or pick your own in the comments