Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg

Manchester United 4:1 Real Betis

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Thu, 9 March 2023 @ 8:00pm GMT
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    God knows. The result yesterday scarred me. If we really have no energy left in the team I'd rather we can this tournament and concentrate on top 4.

    Play the kids.
     
    AFC NimbleThumb said:
    This./

    Personally until genuine wholesale changes are made it’s pretty hard to support this lot. Multiple players have let us down terribly time & again. How many 5s, 6s & now 7s do we have to be on the end of for the likes of Shaw & Bruno to say never again.
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    My feeling too. I would have taken a 3-0 defeat and easily moved on, 7 is proper traumatic :lol: Lower league teams don't get battered like that
     
    kouroux said:
    My feeling too. I would have taken a 3-0 defeat and easily moved on, 7 is proper traumatic :lol: Lower league teams don't get battered like that
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    We had peak Rooney & Ronaldo, we were not putting 5s & 7s past our ‘rivals’ annually.

    I feel cheated. They did a job on me this season, I was giving 2nd & 3rd chances all over the place but once they got 4 I detached from it. I’m done with a lot of these guys, they don’t represent Manchester United for me. They’ll beat Betis 1-0 & run to social media talking shite like ‘back on track’ they’ll beat Southampton by 2 & you’ll hear more empty rhetoric.

    I’ve been here too many times before, I’m done with the majority of them.
     
    How many changes we reckon for Thursday? In the same way Rashford and Garnacho were dropped for not meeting standards off the pitch, you suspect ETH will have to draw a line here and crack the whip by benching some senior players on Thursday. Nothing too extreme, but a frank word behind closed doors to explain your position and the promise that will come on from the bench. That won’t be the way to deal with younger or more mentally fragile players, but those who can take it will likely bear the brunt.

    If you are going to use the word “unprofessional”. You can’t go with continuity in the next match and pretend that didn’t happen.

    Edit: Second para disappeared.
     
    Last edited:
    The only good thing about the Liverpool-match. The players will be so focused after ETH had a go at them, so there is no way we wont win this game
     
    I would drop the entire back four to make a statement, yesterday was totally unacceptable and each and every one of them was culpable for at least one or two goals. While the chuckle brothers aren't great they are both regular internationals. Baillys big gripe was that Maguire and Lindelof would play crap, get battered and then play again the next week and it was a legitimate complaint. The only issue with Bailly was he was even worse than them two.
    Varane and Martinez have been immense all season but they were woeful yesterday individually and as a pair, When you play that bad you deserve to be dropped.
    AWB is better than Dalot at this point in time and Shaw was pretty woeful yesterday as well, Malacia deserves a run out.
     
    TMDaines said:
    How many changes we reckon for Thursday? In the same way Rashford and Garnacho were dropped for not meeting standards off the pitch, you suspect ETH will have to draw a line here and crack the whip by benching some senior players on Thursday. Nothing too extreme, but a frank word behind closed doors to explain your position and the promise that will come on from the bench. That won’t be the way to deal with younger or more mentally fragile players, but those who can take it will likely bear the brunt.
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    I can see AWB, Malacia, Sancho, Sabitzer starting.

    Hopefully Ten Hag has finally realised he's running some of our lads into the ground. He missed opportunities to rest key players in easy games and it was always going to catch up with us.
     
    Smores said:
    I can see AWB, Malacia, Sancho, Sabitzer starting.

    Hopefully Ten Hag has finally realised he's running some of our lads into the ground. He missed opportunities to rest key players in easy games and it was always going to catch up with us.
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    I think Maguire will start one of the next two and probably captain the side also. If Bruno is benched, I think he is very likely to play.
     
    Unless ETH sees it differently in the players eyes and body language then there's no need to panic and 'throw' this tournament in order to focus on the top 4 battle. And I hope we carry on doing what we've been doing so far and take the competition seriously and, just like a league game, only rotate where necessary.

    I was fully expecting a defeat v Liverpool, and was saying in the build up that I'd absolutely take a point before the game and would see it as a point gained in probably our toughest remaining fixture. I obviously wasn't expecting 0-7, but I think that was a combination of them not taking their foot off the gas and mental and physical fatigue taking over for us once the game was lost.

    Some may see that last bit as suggesting we 'need' to rest everyone for this game. But winning, and developing a winning mentality, is a motivator and, for me, we need to get straight back to that and just treat the Liverpool game as an aberration against a highly motivated rival. The mental scars of our seasonal hammerings at City and Liverpool may rise again next time we go there, but they, hopefully, shouldn't change our attitude to cup games at home to the likes of Betis and Fulham.
     
    I would definitely try and rest a couple of players. There’s still 7 games to play in the Europa if we reach the final, and with arsenal, Juventus and some other decent sides still in it there’s going to be a few tough games along the way.

    We can’t be relying on the same 11 players to get us 4th place and go all the way in both cups. We need to be using the likes of Malacia, Sabitzer, Martial, McTominay, Mainoo, Sancho, Maguire, Lindelof etc, maybe not all at once but here and there. The Europa league final is in June this year, we don’t want to Traveller ourselves getting there only to limp out to arsenal in the final.
     
    I feel like the same players need to play and redeem themselves. I know last nights result will probably never be forgotten, but they have to earn the fan's respect back.

    While some are not good enough, we do have some genuine excellent players in there. I won't change my opinion of them yet.

    Some rotation will happen of course, but the likes of varane, martinez, casemiro, rashford, bruno will probably start.
     
    I'm expecting a big performance, perhaps a few changes,
    People saying to play the kids, what the hell?
    We can win this trophy playing 7 games.
    Put everything we can to win this.
    Top 4 will sort its self out, our rivals all play each other.
     
    One option that I wouldn’t put past EtH is to play exactly the same XI and look for a reaction. But if there are injuries to Shaw, Varane, Casemiro, Rashford etc., I wouldn’t risk them.
     
    2 man midfield said:
    I would definitely try and rest a couple of players. There’s still 7 games to play in the Europa if we reach the final, and with arsenal, Juventus and some other decent sides still in it there’s going to be a few tough games along the way.

    We can’t be relying on the same 11 players to get us 4th place and go all the way in both cups. We need to be using the likes of Malacia, Sabitzer, Martial, McTominay, Mainoo, Sancho, Maguire, Lindelof etc, maybe not all at once but here and there. The Europa league final is in June this year, we don’t want to Traveller ourselves getting there only to limp out to arsenal in the final.
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    Yeah, that's absolutely the level of rotation I prefer and always call for.

    Obviously you need squad management throughout the season if you're going to go deep in a number of tournaments - but if you're going to try and win as many of those trophies as possible then I don't agree with as good as 'throwing' a competition by going with an overly weakened line up.

    So yeah, rotation in moderation - 'here and there' just when needed - is my preference compared to some of the very weak line ups you see suggested for some cup games on here each season. Thankfully, ETH seems to do that so I'm expecting a strong line up with just a few tweaks here and there, which is perfectly fine squad management.
     
    There's 2 things that need to happen in this game, send a message AGAIN that no one is invincible and as a plus they actually get a rest. But I wouldn't just do it in the Betis game, I'd keep this team for Southampton at the weekend.

    DDG
    AWB Lindelof Maguire Malacia
    Sabitzer Casemiro
    Pellistri Sancho Garnacho
    Weghorst​
     
    He’s got to play a strong team as we need to bounce back and not let this affect our confidence too much. It’s imperative we get a good win under our belts and go on a run. Easier said than done.
     
    Come Wednesday we will all be raring to go again. Victory here and I very much expect we progress to the next round and beat Southampton at that weekend.

    Still in two cups with a good chance at winning them. Home form is excellent, our recovery from damaging defeats is excellent, the real test will be the next big away game.
     
    I'd take Bruno out for this one, not as punishment (although he deserves it) the lad needs a rest.
     
    BluesJr said:
    The Liverpool games are everything. Losing 7-0 is unforgivable.
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    I really don't buy into that thinking for a club of our size.

    I can understand the 'derbies are everything' thinking for smaller teams who don't challenge for trophies - so winning the bragging rights against their rivals for the season is their trophy.

    But for teams like us, who should be challenging for honours, then trophies won at the end of the season should matter more than 'did we beat Liverpool / City'.

    I'd much rather lose those games, but win the trophy at the end of the season. Rather than beat them but lose out to them for the trophies. That's just winning the battle but losing the war. I always thought it sounded pathetic when we'd win trophy after trophy and fans of the likes of Liverpool, City, Leeds, etc, would try to desperately claim that so long as they beat us then 'that's all that matters'. Nope, our era of domination was what really mattered and they knew it. They were just trying to desperately cling onto any positive that they could.
     
    I would change all the team for this game.
    We are at home, we need a result, but the players involved yesterday must be fined or showed that they have failed.

    ----------------------------------------Heaton---------------------------------------
    Wan Bissaka------------Maguire------Lindelof--------------Malacia
    ------------------------Mc Tominay------Sabitzer-----------------------------
    Sancho----------------------------Mainoo-------------------------Garnacho
    ----------------------------------------Elanga------------------------------------------

    Grab a 1-0 victory, bring 5 players in and go qualify in Spain next week, but I don't want yesterday's starter to join.
     
    I would start majority of the players we saw yesterday despite how mad that sounds. After all it's the first team and it's a chance to put things right.

    The changes I'd make is awb for Dalot, Sancho for Antony. And possibly sabitzer for Bruno (bench) and malacia for Shaw (bench) to freshen it up a bit.

    Let some of the players get it out their head. It's a risk but we gotta rely on them for the majority of the games, so keeping majority allows them to right the wrong and use the cup games and Southampton to get some momentum back.
     
    what the hell is wrong with some of you, yeah OK the Liverpool game was BAD , but dropping them all , forget about winning another trophy, come on get a grip
    The best way to bounce back is a the strongest team we can put out and get a result a good result.
    We have more than a good chance of winning this, we must take it will both hands.
     
    Chaky_Best said:
    I would change all the team for this game.
    We are at home, we need a result, but the players involved yesterday must be fined or showed that they have failed.

    ----------------------------------------Heaton---------------------------------------
    Wan Bissaka------------Maguire------Lindelof--------------Malacia
    ------------------------Mc Tominay------Sabitzer-----------------------------
    Sancho----------------------------Mainoo-------------------------Garnacho
    ----------------------------------------Elanga------------------------------------------

    Grab a 1-0 victory, bring 5 players in and go qualify in Spain next week, but I don't want yesterday's starter to join.
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    Shocks me that people still consider mctominay in any team or any formation. Mctominay is the number one player to sell in the summer after maguire and martial. Absolutely useless...plus he added hiding behind opponents as a new special ability
     
    ————————Rashford———————
    Garnacho———-Sancho———Antony
    ———————McT————Sabitzer———
    Malacia——Martinez——Lindelof——AWB
    ——————————-DDG————————-

    Case and Varane are not yet fully fit based on the Liverpool game. The rest like Bruno, Shaw, Dalot should be dropped for playing like fecking cnuts.
     
    Betis are 5th in La Liga, and drew with Real Madrid yesterday. I can't believe some people think we can make 11 changes, bring in some of the squad players we know we need to upgrade, and still win while sending a message to the 'first teamers'.

    Betis are too solid a team for that / our squad depth isn't good enough for that. So if we drop all the first team to 'send them a message' then we're as good as throwing away a competition that we have a genuine chance of winning. That's biting your nose to spite your face for me. We need to get right back on the winning momentum and put the defeat behind us as quickly as possible, rather than unnecessarily exacerbate it by getting ourselves knocked out of a cup as collateral damage. Really don't understand that thinking at all.
     
    pauldyson1uk said:
    what the hell is wrong with some of you, yeah OK the Liverpool game was BAD , but dropping them all , forget about winning another trophy, come on get a grip
    The best way to bounce back is a the strongest team we can put out and get a result a good result.
    We have more than a good chance of winning this, we must take it will both hands.
    Click to expand...

    100%.
    The best reaction is a good result.

    3 full days of rest with no travelling should be enough rejuvenation.

    If anyone is fatigued or carrying a niggle, then drop them, otherwise play our strongest team.

    It's important for morale to have competitions left to win.

    The EL and FA cup are there to be won. We might win nothing next year.
     
    I'd go for something like...

    DdG

    Malacia
    Martinez
    Varane
    AWB

    Casemiro
    Sabitzer

    Rashford
    Sancho
    Antony

    Wout
     
    Shaw, Verane, Bruno and Rashford need a break. Maybe try a 433 against Betis:

    DdG

    Malacia
    Martinez
    Lindelof
    AWB

    Casemiro
    Fred
    Sabitzer

    Sancho
    Garnacho
    Elanga
     
    It's become a pretty big game mentality wise. Really need to grind a win out.
     
    Bruno on the wing and Wout playing #10 :drool:
     
    Some of them did look completely out of it yesterday to be honest, and the end of the season is only going to get harder.

    Even if we're not going to completely play the kids, there will have to be massive rotation.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Bruno Fernandes image Bruno Fernandes 76% of 282 votes

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Player Ratings

6.5 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

169,15,14
  • Man Utd win
  • Real Betis win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 33% Man Utd 2:0 Real Betis
  • 16% Man Utd 3:0 Real Betis
  • 12% Man Utd 2:1 Real Betis
  • 9% Man Utd 1:0 Real Betis
  • 8% Man Utd 3:1 Real Betis
  • 5% Man Utd 1:1 Real Betis
  • 3% Man Utd 0:2 Real Betis
  • 3% Man Utd 4:0 Real Betis
  • 2% Man Utd 5:0 Real Betis
  • 2% Man Utd 0:0 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 1:2 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 4:1 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 0:5 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 2:2 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 6:0 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 7:0 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 9:0 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 3:2 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 0:3 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 0:4 Real Betis
  • 1% Man Utd 0:7 Real Betis
Compiled from 198 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Real Betis
Possession
57% 43%
Shots
25 6
Shots on Target
13 2
Corners
8 4
Fouls
15 6

Referee

Daniel Siebert

Man Utd Lineup

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