Ruud van Nistelrooy takes interim charge of Manchester United for the second time on Sunday, following Wednesday’s 5-2 Carabao Cup rout against Leicester City. This weekend, it’s Chelsea’s turn to visit Old Trafford, which is expected to impose a far more arduous test for the Dutchman.
United – withering in the Premier League depths after just three wins in nine matches this season – desperately need a morale-charging three points.
Express Sport runs through Van Nistelrooy’s likely line-up, and the first in the league since Erik ten Hag’s sacking.
Man Utd predicted XI vs Chelsea
Goalkeeper – Onana
Amidst United’s failings at the start of the campaign, Andre Onana has been vastly improved and will suit incoming head coach Ruben Amorim’s philosophy.
Defence – Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui
With Amorim’s arrival pencilled in for November 11, Sunday could mark United’s penultimate league game using a back four for a long time.
Diogo Dalot hasn’t had a good season, standing at the scene of the crime for many of his side’s conceded goals. His shocking sitter in the West Ham United defeat summed up his fortunes.
But he will be excited to link up with his Portuguese compatriot, Amorim, and it would be bold of Van Nistelrooy to drop him.
Lisandro Martinez should return to centre-back alongside Matthijs de Ligt, with Noussair Mazraoui surely fit enough to start on the left.
Midfield – Ugarte, Casemiro, Fernandes
Manuel Ugarte enjoyed his best game in a United shirt against Leicester last time out, and he’ll be another player chomping at the bit to play under Amorim.
Van Nistelrooy can’t do what Ten Hag did and follow it up by dropping the 23-year-old back to the bench.
His midfield partnership with Casemiro has shown plenty of promise, and, as positive as Christian Eriksen has been recently, he needs to get up to speed for when Kobbie Mainoo returns.
Bruno Fernandes, among United’s growing Portuguese contingency, will start as captain. It’ll be fascinating to see where he fits into a 3-4-3 system.
Attack – Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund
Marcus Rashford has been moved to the right to accommodate Alejandro Garnacho, and he has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks.
While United’s No. 10 has taken the opportunity to flaunt his underrated passing range, he isn’t entering positions to score enough.
But Van Nistelrooy is expected to persist. While Garnacho’s finishing must improve, the 20-year-old will be an undeniable nuisance to Chelsea’s frail defence.
Rasmus Hojlund should replace Joshua Zirkzee up front. If Amorim can get the same tune out of the Dane as he has done Viktor Gyokeres, the Premier League is in trouble.
