Erik ten Hag will face his old club in an emotional Europa League clash.
Rasmus Hojlund’s Return to Scoring
After coming on for just over 15 minutes in the draw against Crystal Palace, Rasmus Hojlund made a brief return following his injury layoff. His comeback signals positive news for Erik ten Hag as all key competitions for the 2024/25 season are kicking off.
Before the arrival of Joshua Zirkzee at Manchester United in the summer of 2024, Hojlund was the primary option for goals. The Danish striker had a solid debut season, netting 16 goals in 43 appearances for United. However, that wasn’t enough to make a significant impact at Old Trafford.
With Zirkzee now in the squad, the goal-scoring burden has eased a bit. Will Hojlund’s performances improve? Against FC Twente, we’ll find out. The Dutch side isn’t highly regarded, making this a prime opportunity for Hojlund to rediscover his scoring touch.
Once he breaks the deadlock and regains his confidence, Hojlund could become a reliable “tiger” for Manchester United.
A First Start for Manuel Ugarte?
Manuel Ugarte has played just 93 minutes for Manchester United across his first three matches. This slow start has been part of Ten Hag’s strategy to help the Uruguayan midfielder acclimate to the team’s style and setup without too much early pressure.
Ugarte is precisely what United’s midfield needs, bringing tenacity, the ability to clean up in the center, and physical competition. With Ugarte on the pitch, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Kobbie Mainoo can push forward with added confidence.
Having not yet had many starting opportunities, the match against Twente will be Ugarte’s first chance to begin a game from the outset under Ten Hag.
A Lifeline for Antony
One goal and a positive display against Barnsley provide Erik ten Hag with reasons to believe that non-Premier League competitions are rare opportunities for Antony. The Brazilian star struggled significantly during the 2023/24 season, losing his place in the starting lineup to Amad Diallo.
Currently, Ten Hag’s favored wingers for United are Alejandro Garnacho/Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo, narrowing Antony’s chances even further as he fights to prove himself in the Europa League.
However, if there’s a “lifeline” available right now, the match against Twente is the perfect moment for Antony to seize the opportunity before it slips away.