In order to restart their pursuit of a top-four finish, Manchester United will play Brentford, but Erik ten Hag faces a lot of selection conundrums.
When Manchester United plays Brentford at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, they hope to get back to winning in the Premier League.
The Red Devils enter the game coming off a terribly disheartening 2-0 loss to Newcastle last weekend. After the defeat, United has now lost all three of their recent matches in the top division without recording a goal.
A top-four finish, which had been virtually assured for much of Erik ten Hag’s debut season, is now in doubt due to a recent drop in performance. Yet facing a Bees team that destroyed them earlier this season won’t be simple for the hosts.
The 4-0 victory over Brentford in August, which put United at the bottom of the standings, is perhaps their lowest moment in Premier League history. Ten Hag has also threatened to leave out players who don’t live up to certain standards after another bad run of form.
“Of course you have to match certain standards,” Ten Hag said. “You have to match certain standards and I know in a season you don’t only go up one way, you will have fluctuations.
“But you have to know why you are where you are and what brings us into that position. Sunday was about determination, passion and desire – and I missed that.
“When they can’t get it, then they’re in the wrong place. When you have a strong opponent who play above their level – and many teams do against Manchester United – then you get killed. And we did on Sunday.”
Despite Aaron Wan-Bissaka getting back into shape to compete with Diogo Dalot, the back five is set to remain unaltered. Lisandro Martinez was incensed when he was benched at St. James’ Park during the second half, but he will immediately return to the starting lineup.
Martinez’s suitability for English football was questioned in the wake of the defeat to the Bees and Ivan Toney’s dominance over him. Since then, he has proven his critics wrong, but the Mexican defender would relish beating Toney.
Ten Hag, who is still feeling Casemiro’s absence in the middle of the field, must make a significant choice. The Brazilian will miss the last four games of his sentence. Rio Ferdinand, a former player for Manchester United, was against the pairing of Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer playing against Newcastle.
“I was shocked that Fred didn’t play. Understanding what’s needed and what’s required for this game, Fred has the energy, the legs, the tenacity,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with FIVE.
“You can criticise Fred for anything but energy, sacrifice and applying himself has never been something you can throw at him as a ɴᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ. They are the things that come with Fred as part of his game.
“So I was really sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇᴅ when he didn’t start the game. But I feel as a whole team no one took the bull by the horns. They weren’t up for it.”
With Bruno Fernandes once again serving as the No. 10 in front of them, Fred might replace McTominay again in midweek. He did so against the Magpies.
According to ʀᴜᴍᴏʀs that Ten Hag is getting frustrated with the unproductive Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony are both anticipated to start on the flanks. Wout Weghorst may be losing patience as well because he continues to have difficulty scoring goals.
After taking over for the Dutchman, Anthony Martial played for 30 minutes on Tyneside and is now expected to start. Ten Hag had that strategy in mind for the entire season, but Martial’s physical problems prevented it from coming to fruition.
Man Utd XI vs Brentford (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Sabitzer; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
