The Debate: ‘It will not be a walkover’
Manchester United face Sheriff in our penultimate fixture of the Europa League group stage on Thursday, with the Reds looking to apply further pressure on Group E leaders Real Sociedad.
United defeated the Moldovan side 2-0 in Chisinau in September, giving Erik ten Hag his first European win as United manager.
But despite winning in the return fixture, The Athletic’s Carl Anka believes Sheriff will provide a stern test for Ten Hag’s men when they play at the Theatre of Dreams for the very first time.
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“They’ve got quite the history,” said Anka on this week’s episode of The Debate. “They are quite the unique football club, in Europe.
“They made a very loud reception when Manchester United came to visit and they’ll try and play on the counter-attack. They have very strong players, a lot of them come from Nigeria as well, so it will not be a walkover.
“I do think Erik ten Hag will want to get this wrapped up in 60 minutes. I’m interested to know whether or not Manchester United use [Anthony] Elanga, and how they use Elanga in this game, but [it will] not [be] a walkover.
“[It is] Something to take very, very seriously, and [United will] want to make the away fans quiet as soon as possible.”
Former Red Ben Thornley, who will be commentating for MUTV on the fixture, outlined the importance of getting a positive result from the eighth match of our busy October period.
“We all knew what a defining month October was going to be with the number of games we’ve had,” he said. “[I hope] we can take this group to the final game - because I don’t think Sociedad are going to slip up in Cyprus – [where it is a case of] us going to Spain next week and having to go there and win, after the defeat we had at Old Trafford.
“Also, with the two games we’ve had [postponed] against Crystal Palace and Leeds, we’re going to have to find a couple of dates for those to be played, and ideally the dates that we’ll save not having to play two games to qualify if we finish second, we’ll be able to stick them in there.
“It’s important anyway for the momentum of Manchester United. For the team to keep winning, for the team to keep confidence high, especially going into a game against West Ham on Sunday.
“So yeah, they do have to go out there and win. I’m sure [Ten Hag will] want to have it sewn up within the first hour and then he might be able to bring on [Alejandro] Garnacho, [Zidane] Iqbal and any of the other younger players he might have included in the squad.
“It is important that we win that because we want to be in the position where we are going to Spain knowing that a win will seal us the group.”