Erik ten Hag talks about tactics with TNT Sports. “We’ve got some injuries… Bruno’s suspension… so we’ve had to be a bit creative… we’ve got a short lead time to West Ham, so we’re making some changes… a different set-up… . but not so different because we want to remain consistent… we bring Noussair Mazraoui to the 10th position… I know him from the past, sometimes Ajax has played him there… he also sometimes plays in our system as a wing defender. those half spaces, so he is capable of doing that work… he can push well… we can see during the match what is needed… we can go with him, maybe in a different position… maybe, if necessary, a more attacking position… and it is also possible to bring in a more defensive midfield to bring in Casemiro… Rasmus Højlund just came back from a serious injury and we need to build up his fitness… he is not yet 100 percent… he will come… we want prevent him from getting injured again… it is to spare him and on Sunday it is another big game… the atmosphere will be very noisy and hostile… we know the style of the manager… he will play from the underdog position… counter-attacks… he can do that very well… we have to be prepared… read the game and play it smart.”

Chances are United weren’t very happy when this match sounded from UEFA’s supercomputer. They have visited the Istanbul giants three times before, losing the last two. This is what happened in the Champions League in 2004…

…and that’s how things went in the Europa League in 2016. Bad news for Jose Mourinho that day, although fair, he went on to lead United to the end-of-season trophy. “Would Mr. Mourinho want to put a nail in Erik’s coffin?” John Potter wonders. “I’m pretty sure he would like that, despite his objections.”

Manchester United are making four changes to the team sent out to beat Brentford last weekend. Two of these are enforced, with Bruno Fernandes suspended and Jonny Evans injured, while Casemiro and Rasmus Højlund are dropped to the bench. Victor Lindelöf, Noussair Mazraoui, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte perform.

There are quite a few familiar faces in the Fenerbahçe base. A pair of stars formerly of Old Trafford in Fred and Sofyan Amrabat. Çağlar Söyüncü, once of Leicester City, Dušan Tadić of Southampton, and Newcastle trickster Allan Saint-Maximin. Meanwhile, on the bench is Edin Džeko, the late Manchester City, and former Everton and Crystal Palace striker Cenk Tosun. Hello again, everyone.

The teams

Preamble