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1 month ago
16 Manchester United kick-start their 2024/25 Europa League campaign on Wednesday night against FC Twente.
It will be the first meeting between the two teams, although Erik ten Hag previously played and manager the Eredivisie outfit. Not only does the Manchester United manager know his opposition, he is a boyhood fan so there comes an emotional attachment with this fixture.
United are competing in the Europa League after winning the FA Cup last season. The Reds finished eighth in the Premier League which wouldn’t have been enough to secure a spot in Europe’s second rare competition.
It has been a mixed start to the season for Ten Hag’s side, winning three, losing two, and drawing one of their opening six matches.
Meanwhile, FC Twente finished as high as third in the Eredivisie table last season for the first time in a decade and have since picked up 11 points from their opening six matches.
They currently sit fourth in the Eredivisie table and seven points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven. Joseph Oosting is doing a good job and has warned that his side can hurt United on the transition.
However, the focus must now shift to the Europa League after a disastrous Champions League campaign last term.
The Reds have lost just one of their last 24 home matches in the Europa League Ten Hag is still having to cope without summer signing Leny Yoro, while Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelof
The manager is expected to make a couple of changes for the game. For instance, Marcus Rashford is likely to start and we could see Toby Collyer at left-back.
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