PBP: UCL - Sevilla FC vs Manchester United FC - Feb 21, 2018 [R]

Sevilla are only 3 points behind Real Madrid in La Liga and they've caught a good run of late. This isn't a side we should expect to crush, especially away.

Expect Mourinho's 4231 and expect defending and counterattacking, which we say today against Huddersfield. Jose would be happy with a 0-0 draw, but it would be oh so sweet to take a 0-1 lead back to Old Trafford.

De Gea
Valencia Bailly Jones Young
Matic Pogba
Martial Lingard Alexis
Lukaku

Maybe Juan gets the start over Jesse, but I doubt it.

 

What I want to see

De Gea
Valencia Bailly Lindelof Young
Herrera Matic Pogba
Alexis Lukaku Martial

 

Some suggestions Mou is considering Bailly at #6 to give Pogs more license to attack. Would be a back three in many respects.

Personally doubt it, think the weekend lineup suggests Bailly / Jones @ CB for this one with Smalling / Lindelof now the B team. Also Mou praised “Victor and Chris” after the match - which is what he does before dropping people from the next lineup

 

This is the team and formation I would go with as well (Shaw or AY at LB would be the only real question, as far as I'm concerned).
There are doubts about Pogba's availability and if he isn't ready, then I would us to go 4-2-3-1, with Lingard at the 10 spot instead of the 3rd CM.
Would be an odd choice for Jose to even think of playing CB in midfield. If there was one of our CBs who could play there, it would be Lindelof (even if for me, this is the perfect game to play him at CB IMO) in order to spell or assist Matic.
Jose should not have played Matic vs Huddersfield, or at least not for as long as he did: upcoming games vs Sevilla and Chelsea both is where we'll really need him. Not sure how he is supposed to figure in 3 games this, having already so many games (the most of any outfield player in the team).

 

Who partners with Bailly is a bit of a worry. Lindelof was pretty shaky yesterday, although he settled down late in the game. Smalling is always one second away from disaster. And Jones still has some 'splaining to do over his performance against Spurs.

The real question is how Jose will use Alexis and Martial. We shall see.

 

Reports that Pogba trained today.

 

Injury update ahead of Sevilla (spoiler alert, it's growing...)

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-team-news-sevilla-14304717

Interesting how Rojo and Jones (albeit predictable in his case, I guess) are not available all of a sudden.

 

With regards to Rojo (and Ibra), it's almost like they came back too early from major knee surgery and are now facing complications. Who could've predicted that?

 

Speaking of injuries, Sevilla's list is pretty extensive itself, with several key players missing for them.

www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2018/02/14/5a848654e2704eba598b469c.html

 

Pretty exciting! It's been a while for a game of this importance.

 

It’d be more exciting if we weren’t playing shit football.

 

First Champions League knock-out stage game since 2014

 

To follow up on yesterday's reports, the only players not in the squad apparently are Zlatan, Fellaini (long term absentees), plus Jones and Rojo.

 

Pogba, Herrera, Rashford and Ibrahimovic all in training.
Bailly's also getting stuck in after his 60 second come back on Saturday #mufc pic.twitter.com/rCRtVpcTeq

— Charlotte Duncker (@CharDuncker) February 20, 2018

 

Where should Alexis Sanchez start against Sevilla?

— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) February 19, 2018

 

Now that we've killed Lingards good form, just play him at 10, put Martial on the left and flip a coin for the right.

Sigh.

 

Montella on Mourinho.

www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11259116/manchester-united-boss-jose-mourinho-a-pioneer-of-tactics-says-sevilla-vincenzo-montella

 

Pretty sure we will lose this game. Worse teams than Sevilla have outplayed us recently. We'll be relying on them being terrible in front of goal from many chances...and us scoring from very few.

 

UCL knockout rounds.

Buzzing and I don't care how shit we've been. No divine right to success as we all know so might as well enjoy it!

 

Given we still need a left-footed RWF, going to be interesting to see Pablo Sarabia - a player we were linked with 4 years ago.

Seems like Juan Mata (the good & the bad) but with some pace.

Whoever is at left-back will need to keep him quiet if he lines up on right.

 

People forget Spanish teams are not good defensively and we have a potent attack. We have to make sure Smalling is on his game.

 

It's nice to know some people can turn their brains off while watching our team play.

 

Sanchez is the one player Sevilla are worried about.

www.bbc.com/sport/football/43133962

It's all well and good (perfectly understandable even) but those comments hopefully will light a fire in some players. He did compliment Pogs also and fingers crossed, he will show up tomorrow. It's time...