Manchester United will on Friday face a side which is 76 places below them in the English league. The country's most successful team will face the lowest ranked team still in the competition. The Red Devils made their way to the fourth round of the competition after a convincing 2-0 win over Yeovil Town. Manager Louis Van Gaal started a very strong side during that outing and is once again expected to field his best eleven.
The Dutchman has come under criticism for using the 3-5-2 system at the club despite the fact that the traditional 4-4-2 formation has yielded better results. Even though they have lost just once in their last 13 matches in all competitions, United have often struggled to get the better of weaker oppositions and have been unconvincing. However Van Gaal has insisted that his system brings more stability to the team and that he will continue to use the formation.
He has also been questioned on his decision to field Di Maria as a striker as opposed to him being played in his natural position as a midfielder and the former Bayern Munich boss claimed that the Argentinean's pace higher up the field is important for the team.
"He played in the 4-4-2 in the left midfield position. In the 3-5-2 he does not play so much because he has been injured," said Van Gaal referring to Man United's record signing Angel Di Maria.
"Then he came back and I tried him as a striker because we need also pace in our striker's position. We have to stretch the pitch. Then you make the pitch bigger and your midfielders can play in a bigger space and play a better positional game than ever."
"So I tried that because I have to do that because I don't have the preparation at the beginning of the season.
Robin Van Persie is set to return to the Man United squad after recovering from an ankle injury, left back Luke Shaw is expected to feature as well. However United will be once again be short of defenders with Jonny Evans Chris Smalling and Rafael da Silva major doubts for the match. Ashley young will also remain on the sidelines having failed to recover from his hamstring injury.
Luke Chadwick is unlikely to face his old side Manchester United as he continues to nurse his knee injury. Cambridge United midfielder Tom Champion who picked up a knee injury during the 4-0 win over Newport County on Saturday is also a doubt for the match.
Cambridge United vs Manchester United team sheets
Cambridge United's lineup: Dunn, Tait, Taylor, Coulson, Donaldson, Champion, Elliott, Hughes, Nelson, McGeehan, Kaikai.
Manchester United's lineup: De Gea, Jones, Rojo, Blind, Valencia, Carrick, Fellaini, Januzaj, Di Maria, Wilson, Falcao.
Cambridge United's subs: Norris, Miller, Dunk, Simpson, Ball, Chadwick, Bird.
Manchester United's subs: Valdes, McNair, Rafael, Shaw, Fletcher, Herrera, van Persie.
Détails du match, résultat et infos sur la première diffusion
Cambridge United 0 - 0 Manchester United
janvier 23, 2015 3:00The R Costings Abbey Stadium (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)Ce match est terminé. Voici les détails de la première diffusion du match en direct.
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