OMONIA – MANCHESTER UNITED | Thursday 6.45pm
Forget, as far as possible, the derby defeat. Although the scar from Sunday afternoon will remain open for some time at Manchester United. Yes, City are stronger, but no one expected a tennis match 6-3, made less bitter by the two goals in the final when the game was obviously closed and Guardiola’s team was already celebrating. A result that also called into question the work of ten Hag, who had recovered after a disappointing start. But in Manchester they will not easily forget such a thrashing. And perhaps, at this moment, the Red Devils will also be happy to go and play away from Old Trafford. A win in the game against Omonia – but it must be a good one, no doubt about it – could ‘sweeten’ the fans ahead of a return to home soil.
And the commitment obviously comes to the aid of the former Ajax coach’s team. Omonia is last in the league table after two days, has lost both, scored only one goal and conceded five. In short, there should be no history. Also because, on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo, who watched the derby from the bench, will play as a starter: ‘I didn’t put him in because of his history,’ said ten Hag at the end of the match. And the justification is correct. Throwing CR7 into the fray in a compromised match after just a few minutes would not have made sense honestly. Better to save it for Europe.
Erik ten Hag
The Prediction
Winning, convincing, recovering and scoring lots of goals. There are so many goals for Manchester United in this match. All of them to be taken to try to ease the pain of a derby defeat too bad to be true. ten Hag knows he is gambling a lot because from now on nothing will be forgiven him. And then the Red Devils should win without history.
The likely line-ups for Omonia-Manchester United
- OMONIA (4-2-3-1): Fabiano; Psaltis, Miletic, Yuste, Kitsos; Panagiotou, Bachirou; Loizou, Cassama, Diskerud; Ansarifard.
- MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Malacia; McTominay, Casemiro; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Martial; Cristiano Ronaldo.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-4
