MOYES MIGHT NOT RISK PAIR ON SURFACE
GROUP E But De Gea respects Europa League
DAVID De Gea admits Manchester United would rather play in the Champions League — but he’s still desperate to win the Europa League.
United keeper De Gea has a long history with the Europa League and he won it aged 19 when he helped Atletico Madrid beat Fulham in 2010.
The Spaniard was on the bench when United beat Ajax in the 2017 final before he missed the decisive spotkick in the 2021 penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal.
Although he thinks a club of United’s stature should be in the Champions League, he refuses to turn his nose up at the chance of European silverware.
And he says tonight’s clash with Moldovan champions Sheriff is must win after United’s shock home loss to Real Sociedad last week.
Opinion
“I think it’s a great competition,” said De Gea.
“Of course, in my opinion, we should be playing in the Champions League.
“But this is the competition we have to play for and we will give it everything. “I have good memo
DAVID MOYES admits Silkeborg’s plastic pitch has given him a selection headache ahead of West Ham’s Europa Conference League clash in Denmark tonight.
Silkeborg, fourth in the Danish SuperLiga, play on an artificial surface at their 10,000-seater JYSK Park stadium.
Moyes has included defenders Craig Dawson and Aaron Cresswell in his squad after spells out injured, but he may not risk them on the turf.
“It’s given me some thoughts,” ries of this competition and we have another big game against Sheriff.
“We lost our first one in the group and we have to win this game against a very difficult team.
“But for sure, it’s a very special competition.”
Erik ten Hag also admits nothing less than three points will do for United in the
Zimbru Stadium as they bid to kick-start their group campaign.
“It’s the same for every game, we have to win,” said the United boss.
Task
“It’s clear that when you lose the first game, you have to win the second game, so we know what our task is.”
Like everywhere, the fans in Moldova only had eyes for Cristiano Ronaldo when the United squad jetted into Chisinau yesterday afternoon.
They are desperate to see their hero play, but Ten Hag would give nothing away when asked by a local journalist if Ronaldo would start or be on the bench.
“I’m sorry, the Moldovan fans will have to wait,”he said.
Ronaldo is expected to lead United’s attack against Sheriff because both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are injured.
Ten Hag can field a strong side because Sunday’s clash with Leeds has been postponed and he is respectful
EUROPA CONFERENCE
(Por) said the Hammers boss (right). “We respect that it’s an artificial pitch, we have some decisions to make.
“We’ll have a look at Craig and Aaron and check out what’s best for them with the surface and everything. They have done a bit of training. It’s something we have to work with.”
Fellow defender Ben Johnson is still sidelined but midfielder Tomas Soucek and winger Maxwel Cornet have shaken off knocks.
Feature
of Sheriff, who have won the last six Moldovan titles in a row.
He noted their group wins over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and Shakhtar Donetsk in last season’s Champions League and says they will be difficult opponents.
They also began their campaign with a 3-0 win over
Thilo Kehrer is expected to feature again after overcoming a tricky start to his West Ham career.
The defender, a €12m signing from PSG, gave away a penalty on his debut against Brighton
Neil Lennon’s Omonia Nicosia and Ten Hag said: “They beat Real Madrid and they beat Shakhtar Donetsk last year, so they are capable of doing that.
“It’s a serious and decent opponent and we have to play at our best to win.” MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo. and then scored an own goal against Tottenham.
But he has also showed glimpses of the form that has earned the 25-year-old 20 caps for Germany.
“I feel like it’s been a kickstart directly into my West Ham career and it has been the best way to integrate,” said Kehrer.
“I’ve been involved straight away and it has felt good.” WEST HAM: Areola; Coufal, Kehrer, Dawson, Cresswell; Downes, Rice, Lanzini; Benrahma, Scamacca, Cornet.