[Garethw]

Lets guarantee qualification before resting key players ffs.

 

[Havak]

Main points from the presser:

• Not fielding a weakened side - wants to win the group and Chelsea is five days later.
• Same squad available as at the weekend - Carrick & Rojo training but not going to be involved until after the international break IMO, so we can assume the same for Pogba, Fellaini, and Ibrahimovic.

Spoiler: Squad

de Gea
Romero
Pereira*
Bailly
Jones
Smalling
Lindelof
Valencia*
Young
Blind
Darmian
Shaw*
Tuanzebe*
Matic
Herrera
McTominay*
Mata
Mkhitaryan
Lingard
Martial
Rashford
Lukaku

* Players most likely to be left out of Matchday Squad, 4/5 from these players is my guess.

I think other than bringing in players like Tuanzebe, McTominay, and Shaw, we can take the 'not resting players' with a grain of salt. I wouldn't be surprised if Valencia is left out completely. Lindelof might start, it doesn't matter who plays at Left Back because it's the position that gets rotated the most. Lingard probably deserves a start, as I doubt Jose will play all three of Martial / Lukaku / Rashford at Chelsea, so we need to see who can impress the most out of Lingard / Mata / Mkhitaryan to get the nod as the no.10/wide forward for Sunday.

While a lot of us would see playing Lingard, Lindelof, Blind, Young (at RB) etc as resting specific players, I think José would argue that this isn't 'resting' them, just 'using the squad'. It's a tough one to predict here, but I do think we'll see Young or Darmian at RB, Blind at LB, Lingard, Mata, and Martial behind Lukaku. Herrera and Matic are guaranteed to continue, so don't go predicting starts for McTominay or Tuanzebe. The CB's are a different story as I can see any combination playing. I do think it'll be a back four though, not a back three here.

Hoping we just win this one, even another 1-0 is fine. Especially if CSKA can get something against Basel, it basically means we'll finish top.

 

[RedPed]

Should be an easy enough game to be honest. I'm hoping we start with a strong squad, put the game beyond doubt early on, then give other players minutes.

Chelsea definitely have the harder game tomorrow and their CL position is not as safe as ours so hopefully they will be expending a lot more energy than United tomorrow. Of course a defeat for them would do very nicely to sap a bit of confidence for the weekend.

 

[MAME DIOUF 32]

Play Shaw and Tuanzebe. Possibly McTominay as well since we've only got two fit midfielders.

 

[GrandJury]

Play Shaw and Tuanzebe. Possibly McTominay as well since we've only got two fit midfielders.

I think you’re forgetting tomorrow is Two for Tuesdays at Dominos Pizza

 

[Jacko21]

I'm not sure why so many are suggesting such heavy rotation - we've not qualified yet. The Chelsea game is irrelevant at this moment in time, our priority is qualification.

 

[Garethw]

I'm not sure why so many are suggesting such heavy rotation - we've not qualified yet. The Chelsea game is irrelevant at this moment in time, our priority is qualification.

Exactly.

 

[breakout67]

I think you’re forgetting tomorrow is Two for Tuesdays at Dominos Pizza

Gotta keep that arse of his in good shape

 

[sunama]

Play Shaw and Tuanzebe. Possibly McTominay as well since we've only got two fit midfielders.

I think you’re forgetting tomorrow is Two for Tuesdays at Dominos Pizza

 

[Android1974]

Fully expect Jose to run Matic, Rashford and Lukaku into the ground, idk why he does that. I would like to see a few players rested tomorrow.

DDG
Axel Bailly Lindelof
Darmain Herrara McTominay Blind
Lingard Martial Rashford

Rashford runned into the ground when he's been alternating starts with Martial, that's a funny one.

 

[Offside]

Fully expect Jose to run Matic, Rashford and Lukaku into the ground, idk why he does that. I would like to see a few players rested tomorrow.

DDG
Axel Bailly Lindelof
Darmain Herrara McTominay Blind
Lingard Martial Rashford

He’s been rotating Martial and Rashford all season.

Lukaku needs a goal too.

 

[SirAF]

I'm not sure why so many are suggesting such heavy rotation - we've not qualified yet. The Chelsea game is irrelevant at this moment in time, our priority is qualification.

This. There are also basically four days between the two matches.

 

[carlosp]

 

[RuudTom83]

Matic should be given the night off! give the guy a break as he is playing every minute this season.

Tell him to put his feet up at home and watch the game with a nice cup of tea.

 

[sammsky1]

Romero
Darmian, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Blind
Herrera, McTominay
Mata, Lingard, Martial
Lukaku

we win 0-2.

 

[Android1974]

This. There are also basically four days between the two matches.

Yeah, but that will also mean that, with the Chelsea game, some players, like Smalling, Herrera (and Matić and Lukaku, almost) will have played 7 full games in just over 3 weeks.

 

[ManuMou]

The usual attacking OT game plan with 4-2-3-1, but an eye for Chelsea

--------------Rashford-----------

Martial--------Mkhi---------Mata

------McTominay--Herrera------

Blind--Smalling--Lindelof--Darmian

 

[Maradona10]

Hope others step up when matic and Lukaku are rested and deservedly so, they have worked their arses off. Hope Lindelost can find his composure and put in a solid performance. I think shaw fans might be in for a treat as he may as well play this game.

 

[Maradona10]

That is not training, that is playing in a kindergarten. What a bunch of losers .

 

[BenjaminP]

We need to give Tuanzebe some game time. and Lindelof to regain his confidence.

 

[Chaky_Best]

I don't really believe Mourinho when he says that he won't change his team before the Chelsea game. This was Fergie's biggest strenght to plan 2/3 weeks ahead to get the team fit and ready,

I think that Benfica and Chelsea are two different games and two differents tactics will be used.

We know that at the bridge we'll do a Liverpool away performance, but against Benfica we must have the ball and win the game to make sure we get 12 points and qualify today.

So I'd play a 4-2-3-1 and rest one or two players like Jones, Valencia that struggled lately physically. I'd also play Bailly in order to be fitter for Chelsea and playing him with Smalling because he never played (I think) with Lindelof so maybe too risky.

And to counter their very good 3-5-2, Mou may also be tempted to play the same formation...

De Gea

Young
Bailly
Smalling
Blind

Herrera
Matic

Lingard
Mata
Martial

Lukaku

 

[Lawman]

Romero
Darmain Lindelof Tunzabe Shaw
Herrera Mctomney Carrick or Blind
Lingard Mata
Martial

Hopefully this kind of line up with Rashford and Martial doing a half each.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Romero
Darmain Lindelof Tunzabe Shaw
Herrera Mctomney Carrick or Blind
Lingard Mata
Martial

Hopefully this kind of line up with Rashford and Martial doing a half each.

DDG is nailed on to start tonight, unless he is injured.

 

[Jeffthered]

Not sure how to approach this with Chelski in mind. Matic is by far our most dependable, high-quality, and best available midfielder, so I suppose we have to start with him. He's one of our few players who approach the game with a degree of leadership. Unfortunately, I do sigh when I consider names such as Mata, and Mikithariyan. They have little pace, nor confidence and this is a worry. I just hope that they may surprise us all. Lukaku should play, and try and score.

But we have to win this, it's a very important game, be great to complete qualification and get that out of the way. Any other result (aside from a win) just provides another additional, high-profile game that players needs to deal with.

Be great to get some of the injured players back and fully fit.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

shocked that quite a few of you are resting key players, Why ?
We are not safe yet, get this win at home and then we can rest a few.

 

[Lawman]

DDG is nailed on to start tonight, unless he is injured.

Most of this team won’t start but it’s what I would play given we have a massive match on Sunday

 

[Bwuk]

shocked that quite a few of you are resting key players, Why ?
We are not safe yet, get this win at home and then we can rest a few.

We've got 9 points and only really need 1 from our remaining 3 games. None of the sides in the group have given us much trouble in our previous games, and we've got Chelsea at weekend.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

I'm guessing there won't be nearly as much rotation as some are hoping. You would like to see the kids get a half hour or so at the end with a lead though.

We'll need Ander running around like a mad man on the weekend. And Matic is 5th in distance covered in the Prem this season.

 

[Jeffthered]

I think we will see a strong team and rightly so really. Benfica deserve the fullest respect as a club, and I would not take them for granted. They have nothing to lose, a young team, and will probably have some decent numbers of enthusiastic, and very welcome supporters. Makes for potentially a cracking night. I wish I was able to go.

But we need to win. The Chelsea game will look after itself, and we always play well at Stamford Bridge. Let's get through this evening. I want Martial to really, really want to go out and send a message across Europe. He has had a great few days, just want to see him shine. We all want to see him shine.

 

[Trizy]

Why rotate? We don't play again til Sunday. That's loads of time for rest.

A win sees us through to the next round, we can rest in the remaining games then.

 

[Siorac]

I think we will see a strong team and rightly so really. Benfica deserve the fullest respect as a club, and I would not take them for granted. They have nothing to lose, a young team, and will probably have some decent numbers of enthusiastic, and very welcome supporters. Makes for potentially a cracking night. I wish I was able to go.

But we need to win. The Chelsea game will look after itself, and we always play well at Stamford Bridge. Let's get through this evening. I want Martial to really, really want to go out and send a message across Europe. He has had a great few days, just want to see him shine. We all want to see him shine.

Umm we're talking about United here right? Because we have an atrocious record there and lost twice last season, including a 4-0 walloping.

 

[Jeffthered]

You can play well somewhere and lose, that's part of football. All clubs have their 'grounds'. For example, OT isn't a great place for Spurs.. results may fluctuate, but generally they don't do too well at our place. Chelsea rarely get much at Selhurst. Stoke isn't one of our better grounds.... etc

The 4-0 was a debacle, and that can happen to any team on any given day.

 

[Android1974]

You can play well somewhere and lose, that's part of football. All clubs have their 'grounds'. For example, OT isn't a great place for Spurs.. results may fluctuate, but generally they don't do too well at our place. Chelsea rarely get much at Selhurst. Stoke isn't one of our better grounds.... etc

The 4-0 was a debacle, and that can happen to any team on any given day.

It tends to happen to Mourinho teams in his first year, like Barcelona's manita to Real Madrid, when he doesn't know his team well or can't go overly defensive due to fans expectations.

 

[ManuMou]

My mind is not on this game at all.

Chelsea !

 

[el3mel]

My mind is not on this game at all.

Chelsea !

Have never looked forward to playing Chelsea at the Bridge, though. Hate this fixture and the Anfield one with all my heart.

 

[TMDaines]

Play the U18s tonight and the U23s against Chelsea. As long as we keep resting everyone, we will be fine. Can’t get injured, if you never play.

That said, I expect:

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Bailly Young
Matic Herrera
Mata Mkhi Martial
Lukaku

 

[el3mel]

Play the U18s tonight and the U23s against Chelsea. As long as we keep resting everyone, we will be fine. Can’t get injured, if you never play.

That said, I expect:

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Bailly Young
Matic Herrera
Mata Mkhi Martial
Lukaku

No need to play Bailly. I'll start Lindelof myself. These are the kind of games he can be good at.

Also I expect Blind to start instead of Valencia with Young as a RB.

 

[TMDaines]

No need to play Bailly. I'll start Lindelof myself. These are the kind of games he can be good at.

Also I expect Blind to start instead of Valencia with Young as a RB.

“No need to play Bailly”? What are you saving him for? Has he got to go Waitrose instead or something?

 

[Android1974]

“No need to play Bailly”? What are you saving him for? Has he got to go Waitrose instead or something?

He just came from a groin injury, we don't know if it's a condition we are monitoring, and will certainly start Chelsea, so… Besides, Lindelöf should be able to play his former team, if any.

 

[el3mel]

“No need to play Bailly”? What are you saving him for? Has he got to go Waitrose instead or something?

Both him and Jones should be saved for Chelsea. We don't have to play them in such a game if we have other defenders that can do the job. Lindelof as terrible as he's, was good against Benfica away.