Manchester United take on Young Boys in the final Champions League Group F match already having secured a place in the knockout stages. Our opponents are still hopeful of clinching a Europa League spot.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick was initially asked whether he would consider resting some players tomorrow night, with United having already won the group ahead of a busy Christmas period in the Premier League.
It makes it tricky for Rangnick and his coaches to train the players with a game played every three days.
“I haven’t finally decided (my team) but it makes sense we will rest a few players due to the crowded fixture list,” the boss told reporters, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“We need to make sure we have as many recovered players as possible but also need the positive momentum.
“The first game in this group we lost at Young Boys so we need to make up for that.”
It is music to our ears that Rangnick wants to make up for the defeat we suffered against Young Boys earlier this season. We should be aiming to win the group comfortably and to take that motivation with us throughout the month of December.
The German coach has promised to assess the squad over the coming weeks, as well as giving the fringe players more game than usual. He confirmed that Donny van de Beek and Dean Henderson would start against Young Boys when asked whether they would be sent out on loan in January.
Rangnick added: “Well to start with they will both play tomorrow, in the first XI.
“Donny came on as a sub last Sunday. Dean is a very ambitious ‘keeper, we need two.”
Henderson has recently been linked with a January move to Ajax.
On top of that, Rangnick ruled out of the possibility of immediate returns for Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani, who were pictured training with the first-team this morning.
Rangnick made it clear neither of them will be rushed back, saying: “They both cannot play tomorrow but they were part of the training today. Edi even yesterday, Rapha the first time.
“Expect them both in full training next week. Both top players. It is also about sustainability. It would be great to have them as soon as possible, but obviously for rest of season.”
