'We had to be creative' - Ten Hag explains Manchester United starting line up vs Fenerbahce after shock call
Man Utd face Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday night and the starting line ups have been confirmed.
Erik ten Hag has explained his Manchester United starting line up after naming five defenders in the team to face Fenerbahce on Thursday night.
Eyebrows were raised when the official Uefa team sheet listed defender Noussair Mazraoui as a No.10 for the match, with Victor Lindelof and Matthijs de Ligt partnered together in central defence. Lisandro Martinez captains the team from left-back, with Diogo Dalot selected on the right.
Manuel Ugarte and Christian Eriksen are the only two midfielders named in the starting line up, with Casemiro on the bench in Istanbul. Joshua Zirkzee starts ahead of Rasmus Hojlund in attack.
Speaking ahead of the match, Ten Hag explained his line up and why Mazraoui has been selected in an unfamiliar role. "We have some injuries and a suspension with Bruno, so we had to be creative," he told TNT Sports. "Also, we had some players who have a short turnaround to West Ham, so we've made some changes there and a different set-up, but not so much different because we want to keep consistency.
"Eriksen there, Ugarte as the No.6 and we bring Mazraoui into the No.10 position. I know him from before, sometimes played him there for Ajax, also playing him as a full-back, and also in our system he's playing in the half spaces, so he's capable of doing this job. He can do good pressing. We can see during the game what is needed, so we maybe go with him in another position and maybe if needed, he can play a more offensive position and it's also possible to bring Casemiro in."
Asked when Zirkzee had been chosen over Hojlund in attack, he explained: “Hojlund is returning from a big injury. We need to build his fitness he’s not at 100%. We don’t want him to get injured again, we will spare him. On Sunday there is another big game.”
United XI vs Fenerbahce: Onana, Lindelof, De Ligt, Martinez (c), Dalot, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Garnacho, Eriksen, Rashford, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Amass, Ogunneye, Casemiro, Amad, Antony, Hojlund, Wheatley.