Ralf Rangnick is set to make wholesale changes to the starting lineup when Manchester United face Young Boys in the UEFA Champions League at Old Trafford.
Manchester United will lock horns with Swiss club BSC Young Boys in their final group game of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League at Old Trafford, hoping to make it two wins in two under Ralf Rangnick.
The German tactician began his tenure as the Red Devils’ interim manager with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend and will be aiming for another victory on Wednesday night. Ahead of the game against the Swiss club, Rangnick and Manchester United were handed a major injury boost as Raphael Varane, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, and Luke Shaw returned to training.
However, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial remain injured while Phil Jones has not been registered in the Champions League and is ineligible to play. The interim manager boss insisted that he will be changing things up with his selection as he looks to give some of the regulars a rest and assess the rest of the squad.
“It definitely makes sense that we rest a few players due to the crowded fixture list over the next few weeks and months. We need to make sure we have enough recovery as possible, also for the Premier League, but, on the other hand, we need to keep our positive momentum. Our ethos is to win games, even if we maybe play with a few new players, fresh players, it’s still important we win the game,” he said in his presser.
During the press conference, Rangnick also confirmed the identity of two of his starters, claiming that both Dean Henderson and Donny van de Beek were set to feature against Young Boys. “Well, to start, both of them will play tomorrow in the first XI. As you saw, Donny came on as a sub last Sunday and I know that Dean is a very, very good, ambitious goalkeeper,” Rangnick said.
In a separate interview with the club’s official website, Rangnick also hinted at the possibility of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw starting in the full-back slots ahead of Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles. He also confirmed that Nemanja Matic would be captaining the side. “Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] can play, hopefully even Luke Shaw will be available for the game. Nemanja [Matic] will be captain tomorrow,” he said.
It should rule out Harry Maguire and possibly Bruno Fernandes out of the running to start. This would mean Henderson will likely be protected by Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly in defence flanked by Shaw and Wan-Bissaka, with Matic taking up one of the two central midfield positions. He is likely to be partnered with Scott McTominay in the middle of the park.
With Van de Beek confirmed as a starter, he should take up one of the two No. 10 slots for Manchester United, with Jesse Lingard likely to start alongside him, although Juan Mata will be hoping to get some minutes over the course of the game. Finally, up top, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Elanga, both of whom appeared as substitutes at the weekend, should start.
Manchester United Predicted XI: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Matic, Lingard, van de Beek, Greenwood, Elanga.
