The Manchester United Lineup That Should Start Against RB Leipzig

Manchester United travel to Germany to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, where a point is enough to see them out of Group H and into the knockout stages.

Somehow, it’s beginning to feel very Wolfsburg away circa 2015, which is a sore memory for United fans. The Red Devils needed a win away in Germany on that night in December, but threw away a 2-1 lead and were dumped out against the odds.

Defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week has suddenly made qualifying for the knockout stages seem a much more difficult task for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side when it should’ve been wrapped up already.

There’s no Louis van Gaal in the dugout this time, nor is there a rogue Nick Powell to throw on as substitute. With that in mind, here’s how Solskjaer could set up against Die Roten Bullen.

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De Gea is in a fight to keep his position at United with Dean Henderson pushing him every week | Michael Regan/Getty Images

David de Gea (GK) – United’s number one is expected to be back to full fitness for the clash and will likely resume his spot in the starting XI. He needs a good performance to keep Dean Henderson out of the picture.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) – For lack of a better option and the fact that it’s virtually impossible to get a ball past him, Wan-Bissaka starts.

Victor Lindelof (CB) – The jury is still out on Lindelof and with the January transfer window coming up, his performances must pick up quickly. He starts and – like De Gea – is fighting to keep his place.

Harry Maguire (CB) – The England international will be key in steadying the ship at the back. Looked back to his best in recent weeks, to the delight of the Red Devils.

Alex Telles (LB) – Telles has impressed with his attacking impetus down the left flank and is making good on an extended run in the XI following another injury to Luke Shaw.

Scott McTominay (DM) – The base of the diamond, the versatile McTominay has his work cut out for him as the de-facto defensive midfielder. Is it his best position? No. Will he give 100%? Absolutely.

Juan Mata (CM) – He might not have the burst of pace he once had, but Mata is proof that you don’t lose technique. Oozes class with every touch of the ball and still so important for United; he’s recalled to the XI and will play off the right.

Paul Pogba (CM) – Whether his trademark strike against West Ham a shop window performance or Pogba getting back to his best, United won’t mind so long as he puts in another shift like that. The French international will thrive off the left in a diamond.

Bruno Fernandes (AM) – Mr. Manchester United completes the diamond, because obviously. First name on the team sheet and understandably so.

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Rashford ran riot against RB Leipzig when they visited Old Trafford in October | ANTHONY DEVLIN/Getty Images

Mason Greenwood (ST) – The 19-year-old bagged a seriously well taken goal away to West Ham which was key in boosting his confidence once more. His pace and range of finishing will be crucial on the counter for the Red Devils.

Marcus Rashford (ST) – Rashford came up with the goods from the bench at the weekend and proved just how lethal he can be when on form. He managed a hat-trick in the reverse fixture, so obviously starts again here.

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Self-Obsessed Mino Raiola Is Not Helping Paul Pogba’s Case at Manchester United

The rise in prominence of football agents is one of the more sinister aspects of modern football.

A product of the rampant capitalism that has come to dominate the footballing landscape, it’s now commonplace for an agent to hold a deal to ransom, or to mouth off in the press to generate a move for their client with the ulterior motive of lining their own pockets.

For the most part, it’s a necessary and manageable evil.

But Mino Raiola is taking the absolute p**s.

The notorious ‘super agent’ claims he has Paul Pogba’s best interests at heart. That’s what he said back in February when he back-handedly accused Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of condoning slavery, and that’s what he will say in defence of his latest outburst.

It’s no coincidence that, just after Pogba returned to the Manchester United team with a sublime goal to get the comeback started against West Ham, Raiola has once again declared his career in England ‘over.’

This is not someone with his player’s best interests at heart. If that were the case, he’d be wary of Pogba’s delicate situation, and the abhorrent, disproportionate treatment he gets from corners of the UK media. The unjust narrative that he is a diva who puts himself above the club.

He would take into consideration those trying to drive a wedge between the player and the club for the sake of a few clicks, and he would avoid, wherever possible, loading them up with ammunition.

Instead, here he is, just as his client is finally in the headlines for the right reasons, cutting him off at the knees.

At best, Raiola is tone-deaf and has failed to read the room. At worst, he is a sinister, self-obsessed egomaniac willing to pile more pressure onto a vulnerable player to further his own interests.

Pogba, of course, won’t be faultless here. You’re naive if you think he was blissfully unaware of his representative’s intentions. There’s every chance he sees this as an opportunity to drive home a move away – something he has publicly wanted in the past, and is in some way complicit in Raiola’s seedy efforts to make it happen.

It’s Raiola’s responsibility, however, to protect his client. You know, to preserve his reputation, and to ensure he can go into his work every day without worrying about negative headlines and how he is being hung out to dry by the tabloids and the two-bit radio stations.

Yet to Mino, Pogba is just a number. A means of making money. Something to manipulate and exploit.

Just like every one of his other clients.

We’ve seen this with Raiola a million times before. His public batting for Gianluigi Donnarumma led to the keeper being vilified as a ‘snake’ by AC Milan. He even spoke out against the youngster’s own decision to renew his contract – tell me how that is someone with anything but his own interests in mind?

This latest shambles is a shame, because Pogba has shown real signs of putting his issues behind him and getting on with it. By and large, he has been a model professional over the past year.

You fear, though, that as long as he is being undermined by the poisonous influence of the guy bending his ear, we will keep ending up back at square one.

It’s Groundhog Day, and it’s no good for anyone but Mino Raiola and his ego.

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Celtic Considering Paul Lambert Approach If They Sack Neil Lennon

Exclusive – Celtic are considering an approach for Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert should they decide to part ways with Neil Lennon in the weeks ahead.

Lennon is under serious pressure at Parkhead after a draw with St Johnstone extended their poor run to just two wins in 12 matches, and left them 13 points behind Premiership leaders Rangers – albeit with two games in hand.

The Celtic board are reluctant to relieve the Northern Irishman of his duties and reports on Sunday night suggested he was fairly secure in his role. Peter Lawwell and co don’t want to be seen to be yielding to the pressure piled onto them by the Green Brigade supporters’ group who have staged violent protests against Lennon’s position.

But while they remain insistent that a turnaround could be on the cards, 90min have learned that they are privately considering their options as they look to recover their dwindling hopes of a tenth successive league title.

A source has confirmed that should they decide to change track, club legend Lambert is very much in their thinking, and would be one of the early frontrunners if the change was made now. Lambert is held in high regard after making nearly 300 appearances for the club as a player and has substantial experience in management, and has been in charge of Ipswich since 2018.

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Lambert could be in line for a return to Celtic Park | Alex Davidson/Getty Images

The board understand concerns of fans and although they want to avoid a knee-jerk reaction, they are planning for life after Lennon, feeling the axe may be inevitable if form doesn’t pick up soon.

A number of managers have been linked with the post, such as former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe and current Dundee sporting director Gordon Strachan, but it’s Lambert who is most prominently in their thinking at this early stage.

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The Criticism of Tottenham’s Style of Play Is Unfair & Annoying

Isn’t it nice to have a little more intrigue surrounding the Premier League title race this season?

At this time last year, Liverpool had just beaten Bournemouth comfortably 3-0, establishing an 11 point lead at the top of the table.

Their fans wouldn’t have told you it was done, such is the natural pessimism of most football supporters, but it was. There was no standout Manchester City team to challenge them, and the rest of the top six were all struggling for consistency.

This time around, it’s different. Tottenham are currently sat at the top but only ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, while Chelsea and Leicester are two and three points away respectively. Both Manchester clubs, who make up the rest of the six, have games in hand.

Obviously each team has its own distinct style and personality, but no side seems to divide opinion quite like Tottenham at the moment. In all honesty, that depends on your outlook on football, and that’s fine.

But in this age of golden football and outrageous scoring streaks, defending well and holding onto leads is looked down upon. Even more so if that team is managed by the dinosaur that is Jose Mourinho.

Plenty of the discourse after Tottenham’s 2-0 north London derby win against Arsenal centred around the style of play they employed.

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The scoreline, the fans, it’s all great to see | Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Spurs were more aggressive in the first half, even if their ball retention was ‘inferior’ to Arsenal’s. But for all the possession the Gunners were allowed, they created precious little. They were stunned by a ridiculous Son Heung-min strike in the 13th minute and on one of the few occasions they got themselves into a promising position, Tottenham countered with devastating effect.

Serge Aurier passed to Giovani Lo Celso, Giovani Lo Celso passed to Son Heung-min, Son Heung-min passed to Harry Kane, Harry Kane scored. If it sounds simple it’s because it was – Arsenal flooded players to all the wrong areas of the pitch, Thomas Partey was wandering around with some sort of knock near the touchline, and Spurs were allowed to move through the middle with frightening ease.

They flicked the switch from defence to attack with frightening pace, taking advantage of the two v four situation they had been gifted.

Mourinho probably knew the game as a proper contest was over at half time. Spurs had shown enough in attack to hold a comfortable 2-0 lead and, with their defence conceding few goals right now, set about protecting that advantage in the second half.

In that sense, yes, it was hard to watch. Tottenham offered little threat during the second 45, instead allowing Mikel Arteta’s side to have the ball as they sat deep. Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos would ping passes out wide, the ball would come in and be headed away by either Eric Dier or Toby Alderweireld, and the cycle would continue.

Nobody likes to watch their side sit in when a rival could have been hit for four or five, but the points were guaranteed for Mourinho if he decided to shut the opponents out rather than go for the jugular.

Given that Tottenham threw away positions of strength earlier in the season, costing them precious points, it’s hardy surprising Mourinho opted for that approach. He was right to, even if the panel on Sky Sports weren’t entirely thrilled by their product being watered down and reduced to an attack vs defence session.

After all, there is more than one way to win a game of football. Spurs have played plenty of pretty stuff over the years – though don’t be tricked into thinking they were pushovers, Mousa Dembele did gouge some dude in the eye once – but have been left with little to show for it.

Even in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, when Mauricio Pochettino’s side played some of the best football the north London club has ever seen, they were never in a position of strength to go on and win a league title. They were always playing catch up and never got ahead.

But now? Mourinho and Tottenham are at the top. It’s not a position the club have been in regularly, but the latest win in this tough run of fixtures means Spurs are right in the mix with the rest of the competitors.

You may not like the style, but how can you argue against a style which has resulted in Tottenham topping the Premier League table? And do we just forget the 6-1 win against Manchester United or the 5-2 victory at Southampton?

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“Are you not entertained? No? too bad, I don’t care.” | Pool/Getty Images

Tottenham are capable of producing brilliant attacking performances, but the style employed against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal has resulted in Spurs picking up seven points from a possible nine.

There’s no rule on having to like specific managers and their styles. If you dislike Mourinho, that’s obviously fine. But with Tottenham’s squad performing better than ever, is it really that smart or incisive to go after their style?

Nope. Old signs point towards the wheels coming off at some point under Mourinho, but that point evidently isn’t now.

For more from Jude Summerfield, follow him on Twitter!

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Mino Raiola Claims it Is ‘Over’ for Paul Pogba at Man Utd

Super-agent Mino Raiola has claimed that Paul Pogba’s time at Manchester United is ‘over’, seemingly telling Italian newspaper Tuttosport in an interview that will be published on Tuesday that he does not see a future for his client at Old Trafford.

Pogba has regularly been linked with a move away from United in recent years, but he scored a crucial goal in the comeback win over West Ham at the weekend and was in good form during ‘Project Restart’ after an injury-plagued 2019/20 season.

“I can say that it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United,” is the quote from Raiola’s Tuttosport interview that has been shared ahead of its full release.

Pogba did say in the summer of 2019 that he would be open to a ‘new challenge’, only for his eventual return to form several months later appeared to put the issue to bed.

There was then talk of a new contract and the player himself commented in August this year that he expected negotiations to begin once the delayed Europa League tournament was complete. But it remains to be seen if those talks have yet to begin.

Pogba also said on international duty in October it ultimately remains his dream to play for Real Madrid in the future, but that he is still committed to United and ‘loves’ the club.

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Paul Pogba played down transfer speculation in October | Visionhaus/Getty Images

“I heard a lot of noise that I was going to leave and that I had to go to clubs on the right to the left. Today I am still at Manchester and I am fighting to try again to bring the club to the highest level,” Pogba explained at the time.

“We have all heard, things have been said. Yes, all football players would love to play for Real Madrid. It might be a dream. It is a dream for me, why not, one day. Like I said, I am in Manchester and I love my club. I perform in Manchester, I have fun and I want to do everything to put the club where it deserves it. I will give my all, like my teammates.”

Raiola himself has previously said it is a personal ambition of his to have one of his clients join Real Madrid and was hoping to do it over summer, only to see the coronavirus pandemic wipe out the transfer market as clubs across Europe tightened the purse strings.

“I want to take a footballer [to Real] permanently and I will try to do it this summer. It would mean pride for me and my footballers because Real Madrid is a great club,” Raiola said at the time.

Even before the coronavirus crisis, Raiola admitted that ‘not a lot of clubs can afford’ Pogba. But there is increasingly a threat that player runs down his contract at Old Trafford, which was recently extended until June 2022 by United triggering an optional clause.

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

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