Manchester United have named their team for Saturday evening’s FA Cup tie against Huddersfield.
Jose Mourinho has made six changes from the side which lost to Newcastle United last Sunday. Paul Pogba, who has been substituted in his previous two away games, and has reportedly clashed with his manager in recent weeks, hasn’t made the trip due to illness.
Here’s the United line-up for Saturday’s game:
Six changes for #MUFC – here's today's line-up! #FACup pic.twitter.com/JN9IyctMO3
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 17, 2018
And here’s Huddersfield’s team:
TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: Head Coach David Wagner has made 4⃣ changes to his starting line-up for #htafc's @EmiratesFACup match vs @ManUtd.
➡️ @KongoloTerence, @BillingPhilip, Danny Williams & @CollinQuaner
⬅️ @ScottyMalone28, Jonathan Hogg, @AaronMooy & @pritch_93 (AT) pic.twitter.com/R1F1RLRRFs— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) February 17, 2018
Sergio Romeo replaces David de Gea for United. Victor Lindelof comes in for Phil Jones and Scott McTominay starts instead of Pogba. United’s formation could also prove a talking point. At first glance, it looks like a 4-3-3 formation, and a break from 4-2-3-1, which Mourinho has predominately used this season.
The United manager has only started with a 4-3-3 formation on five occasions this season. This formation favours Pogba, and has reportedly become a contentious point between the player and his manager. Pogba wants two midfielders beside him, to cover for his defensive flaws and enable him to break forward. While Mourinho expects his players to work hard, and hold their shape.
The French midfielder has played his best football on the left-side of three-man midfield, particularly at Juventus alongside Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo. He also excelled in that position for United against Everton on New Year’s Day, free from defensive responsibility with Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera behind him filling in the gaps Pogba vacates when he wanders off.
However, Mourinho has appeared reluctant to use him in this position or to change from his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation – until now. It looks like Michael Carrick, Nemanja Matic and McTominay will start in a three-man midfield against Huddersfield.
