As the highly anticipated clash with Manchester City approaches, Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag faces a dilemma regarding the fitness of key player Casemiro. The Brazilian’s availability for Sunday’s game remains uncertain, posing a significant concern for the Red Devils.
Ten Hag expressed his concerns during the pre-match press conference, mentioning that Casemiro is in a race against time to recover for the crucial fixture. Should Casemiro be fit, there’s a possibility he could pair up with Sofyan Amrabat in midfield. This strategic move aims to fortify the defensive setup against City’s potent strikers, even though it might compromise the team’s midfield creativity.
In the defensive line, stability is expected, with Harry Maguire continuing his solid performances, partnering alongside Raphael Varane. Diogo Dalot and Sergio Reguilon are predicted to maintain their positions as full-backs, while Andre Onana guards the goal.
While Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia are back in training, they aren’t yet match-fit. Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez remain a few weeks away from returning to action.
Antony’s recent form may see him replaced by Alejandro Garnacho in the forward line, causing Marcus Rashford to shift from the left to the right wing to accommodate Garnacho. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes is expected to retain his place in the No. 10 position, supporting Rasmus Hojlund as the central striker.
This lineup means no place for Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen. Eriksen, despite recent impactful appearances from the bench, might fulfill a similar role in the upcoming game. Scott McTominay is likely to return to the bench after a subpar performance in the previous match against FC Copenhagen.
Jadon Sancho’s absence continues following his fallout with the manager, resulting in his exclusion from the first-team setup.