After more than a month, fans will finally be able to see their beloved Manchester United back in competitive action. In about a week’s time, Manchester United will take the field and take on Burnley in their EFL Cup round of 16 clash at Old Trafford.
However, the knockout match will bring with it a myriad of selection problems for new coach Erik ten Hag due to the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
United’s first-choice defensive pairing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane will almost certainly miss the match due to their involvement in the final of the quadrennial masterpiece.
United could be without big names for the Burnley clash
Players who went out at the quarterfinal stage were given a week’s leave before rejoining practice, which is likely sometime next week.
The Dutchman had taken his team to Spain in an attempt to improve his fitness and measure his reserve options. His team played two friendlies, against Cádiz and Real Betis, losing both games.
As final preparation before Wednesday’s clash at Old Trafford, the Red Devils faced Everton at Carrington in a friendly behind closed doors.
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Everton in a closed-doors friendly at Carrington on Wednesday.
Neither club is releasing details about the game.
???? @TyMarshall_MEN #MUFC
— United View (@unitedviewtv) December 15, 2022
According to The Manchester Evening News, United drew 1-1 with Everton and the rest of the details were not released by either club.
Such was the secrecy associated with the game that “neither club is releasing details about the game, with the agreement that it would be played behind closed doors and without even the club’s television crews in attendance.”
But the report mentions some interesting points from which certain clues can be deciphered.
Opportunity for young people to shine
United Under-21s lost to Bolton in the Papa Johns Trophy on Tuesday night, but defender Rhys Bennett and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo were conspicuous by their absence.
And the MEN think they might have been involved in the contest. Both played in Spain with Mainoo scoring in United’s loss to Cádiz, while Bennett impressed against Betis.
Two first-team stars, Christian Eriksen and Facundo Pellistri, have been training at Carrington since their team exited the World Cup in the group stage.
And the duo probably got in on it too. Pellistri could finally get a chance to debut for the club and show Ten Hag that he deserves a place in the squad for the second half of the campaign.
