Ten Hag explains United team to face Omonia
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained his line-up for the Europa League clash with Omonia Nicosia at the GSP Stadium this evening.
The Reds have selected a strong side to play against the Cypriot Cup winners, as we seek to close the gap on Real Sociedad at the top of Group E.
Eight of the players who started Sunday's Manchester derby remain in the XI, with Victor Lindelof coming in to replace the injured Raphael Varane at centre-back.
Casemiro is in for Scott McTominay and plays from the off for just the second time since signing this summer, while Cristiano Ronaldo starts instead of Marcus Rashford and will be looking for a second Europa League goal in as many games, after scoring from the spot in Moldova three weeks ago.
Erik's pre-match interview
Watch our pre-match chat with the boss ahead of this evening's game...
Rashford and McTominay are on the bench, along with Antony Martial, who returned from a month-long injury lay-off by scoring twice in the 6-3 defeat to our crosstown rivals.
Youngsters like Facundo Pellistri, Zidane Iqbal and Alejandro Garnacho join them and they will hope to play some part in the game, if all goes well.
United play Everton in the Premier League on Sunday but Erik was keen to convey the importance of three continental points first.
“We have to win every game,” he told BT Sport. “Every game, that is our aim, also for this game [it is the aim]. We prepared properly, and also we have to take the next step in our development.”
Checking in from Cyprus
Our cameras at the GSP Stadium captured the United players arriving a short time ago...
Regarding Ronaldo, Ten Hag said that his fitness is increasing after he missed much of pre-season and that he will feature more in the weeks and games to come.
“Everyone knows how he came into the season when he wasn't fit.
“He is becoming fitter and fitter, he is coming from international games. So we will see how it will go in the future.
“We have a lot of games to cover in the Premier League and in the Europa League.”
He also emphasised the important role Casemiro has played since his addition in summer.
"I start every game with the strongest team, and for this game we chose this one,” he said, in an interview with MUTV.
“But it's clear, Casemiro, he came in and then we started to win. In the start he had some fitness problems, but now he's played many games. He's had good training sessions. He knows now how we play. So from here on I know he will step up and fight himself into the team."
United: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martínez, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes (c); Antony. Sancho, Ronaldo.