Ruben Amorim could do with a morale-boosting win in the Czech Republic tonight as his Manchester United side face Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League.
Amorim started brightly at Old Trafford but back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have stunted their progress.
A 2-0 loss at the Emirates, particularly so early in his tenure, can be easily excused but the manner of United’s performance in losing 3-2 to Forest on Saturday would have alarmed Amorim.
United and Plzen both go into tonight’s game on nine points from five games and sitting on the fringes of the automatic qualification places.
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Viktoria Plzen team news
Coach Miroslav Koubek makes two changes to the team that won 2-1 at Karvina at the weekend.
Cadu comes in for Milan Havel and Daniel Vasulin replaces Erik Jirka. Matej Vydra, who played for Watford, West Brom, Derby and Burnley among many others, also starts for the hosts.
Viktoria Plzen: Jedlička, Cadu, Dweh, Marković, Jemelka, Souaré, Červ, Kalvach, Vydra, Šulc, Vašulín
Manchester United team news
Amorim makes five changes to the team that lost to Forest.
In come Noussair Mazraoui, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford in place of Leny Yoro, Alejandro Garnacho, Manuel Ugarte, Robbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund.
The moves will also mean a change of role for Amad Diallo, who has been operating at right wing-back but will likely move further forward in support of Zirkzee.
Rashford is making his 75th appearance in major European competition for Manchester United, the 10th player to reach that total for the club.
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Fernandes (c), Amad, Rashford, Zirkzee
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 12, 2024
