Man United duo must avoid repeating their disastrous display vs Leicester City - view
Manchester United will clash with Leicester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round at Old Trafford tonight.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will act as interim manager after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal on Monday. It is a tricky situation for Van Nistelrooy.
He could opt to rotate the squad to give a breather to some players who have been starting almost every match.
Alternatively, he might choose to field his strongest team. He would not want the stain of managing a losing Man United side on his CV, even if it’s just for one game.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee will likely be part of the starting XI. The duo started in the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce last Thursday.
Both players endured a difficult evening. Lindelof made a big error, which ultimately led to Fenerbahce’s equaliser. His failure to compete in aerial duels is no secret.
He exhibited his weakness in a key moment, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri a free jump at the ball to score an easy goal.
Ten Hag was spot on to substitute the Sweden international right after this blunder.
Zirkzee earned an assist for Christian Eriksen’s goal but was still the second-worst performer for United.
His tendency to overplay his passes often squandered potential goalscoring opportunities, leaving Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford frustrated.
He is perhaps struggling for confidence after his summer transfer from Bologna.