How Man Utd will line up in 2022/23
Robin Bairner
- 4 Aug 2022 08:30 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United are set to enter a new era in the 2022/23 season, with Erik ten Hag taking charge of the club.
It was supposed to be a clean break from the past for the Red Devils, but they have found this summer a major challenge on two fronts.
Firstly, Ten Hag has struggled to get his club to land the targets that he wants in the transfer market. Frenkie de Jong remains at Barcelona, while the only players who have signed for the Old Trafford outfit thus far are Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
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The other issue that has plagued Man Utd is that of Cristiano Ronaldo’s future. The Portuguese remains at the club but his relationship with Erik ten Hag has soured already, with the manager criticising the striker for departing early following a pre-season encounter with Rayo Vallecano.
It means that it’s been a messy and disjointed transfer window for the Old Trafford club, who will start the season with a team that could look very different come the end of August.
Ten Hag's Man Utd starting XI
Ronaldo is set to lead the line for the time being – at least once he regains match sharpness. Until then, it could be Anthony Martial who is Man Utd’s No.9. The Frenchman will have much of August to prove his worth, having impressed Ten Hag thus far.
Jadon Sancho will start on the right wing and Marcus Rashford is looking good to start on the left, though this is an area where Man Utd are likely to seek to strengthen, with Ajax star Antony not off the cards yet.
Behind him, United could use two playmakers in the form of Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen. The Dane is already starting to look indispensable after a strong debut off the bench against Atletico Madrid. Fred could be the third member of a three-man midfield, which would see Eriksen the more defensive of the creative players.
The defence, meanwhile, will have Luke Shaw at left-back when fit, with potentially Lisandro Martinez slotting in beside Harry Maguire in the middle. Diogo Dalot appears to have the edge on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but after joining Ronaldo in leaving early against Rayo Vallecano, that may not be clear up.
David De Gea, though, clearly starts in goal.
Ten Hag’s squad, though, is subject to change over the close of the transfer window.
Read more about: Premier League, Man Utd
