OLE: MARTIAL HAS TO KICK ON
THREE weeks on from that debacle i n Istanbul and Manchester United have a chance to ensure an embarrassing blip i n Group H does not turn into something altogether more serious.
An excellent start brought about by wins over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig fell apart at the Fatih Terim Stadium thanks to a 2-1 defeat by Basaksehir and the shambolic manner of the goals conceded.
Tonight’s game at Old Trafford gives United a chance to put that r i ght and r estore daylight between them and their group rivals. For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however, the damage may already have been done. The 10-point target set by the United manager might just have risen to 12.
Asked how important it is to win tonight, Solskjaer replied: ‘The short answer is very. We know the compilation of the group and we started well with two wins.
‘Getting to 10 points as quickly as you can was the main point, but that defeat was a big blow. We need at least 10 points to go through definitely. Maybe it’s even likely that you have to have 12 points, so we’re going to go into this game trying to win it.
‘ The l evel of concentration needs to be better. We know the two goals we conceded were on bad breakaways. The first goal was the worst goal to concede and the second a counter-attack.’
United will make a late decision on Paul Pogba’s fitness after he missed Saturday’s win over West Brom with an ankle problem, and Solskjaer revealed that Jesse Lingard is self-isolating and Luke Shaw could be out for another month with a hamstring injury.
Solskjaer also a dressed Anthony Martial’s form, with United’s 23-goal top scorer last season netting just two this term, both in Europe, against Basaksehir and Leipzig.
Solskjaer urged Martial to raise his game, but admitted that a three-match ban for his red card against Tottenham and a loss of confidence have played their part.
‘Anthony made big strides last season, now it’s time again to make even bigger strides,’ said Solskjaer. ‘Every season is a challenge and you cannot rest on your laurels at United. There are demands on every position, and we want Anthony to kick on. He scored against Basaksehir last time, a good header, and we hope he’s going to continue to work hard to get back to his best again.’
Solskjaer gave Dean Henderson a Champions League debut in Turkey, but he is set to restore David de Gea in goal this evening.
Henderson’s only other appearances have come in the Carabao Cup, but Solskjaer dismissed concerns that lack of game time could become an issue for the England goal keeper .‘ Dean wants to stay at United and play for United,’ he said. ‘He is training with one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and he has the potential to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
‘It’s a great competition between them. It’s not up to me to keep everyone happy.’
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-1-2-1-2): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; McTominay; Van de Beek, Pogba; Fernandes; Rashford, Martial. ISTANBUL BASAKSEHIR (4-3-3) Gunok; Rafael, Skrtel, Epureanu, Bolingoli; Topal, Kahveci, Tekdemir; Turuc, Ba, Visca.