Friday 7 August 2015

Match preview: United v Spurs

74 days after the Reds were last in competitive action, United kick off the 2015/16 Premier League season as we host Spurs in this Saturday lunchtime encounter.

Manager Louis van Gaal has urged his side to start strongly in the league this time around, after picking up only 13 points from the first ten games last season.

He said: 

"It is vital that we are at our best from the beginning match, and I think that we are far better now than last year when we started, so I have a lot of confidence that we can do this.
"When we play in the same style and at the same level as the last six months of last season, then we can make a good year."


United look likely to hand a debut to new signing Sergio Romero in goal after Van Gaal told MUTV that David De Gea is not in the right frame of mind to play amid ongoing speculation about his future.

The Dutchman explained:

"It is not easy for David De Gea to manage his situation now, and you know that we have had problems with him.
"I think about the human being more than the player and I don't think he can handle that, he is not in the right frame of mind to play on Saturday, I think."


Van Gaal could select 31-year-old Anders Lindegaard or 22-year-old Sam Johnstone between the sticks, but Romero seems favourite to get the nod. 

Marcos Rojo (match fitness) will not feature and Bastian Schweinsteiger- also struggling with fitness- is likely to start on the bench. 

Van Gaal continued:
"We have no injuries, it is unbelievable, but it's not possible for Rojo to be match fit as he was the last player back and did not play on the tour.
"Schweinsteiger came also at the last moment out of his holidays so I don't think he is fit enough and we have to build the fitness he needs."


Spurs could give debuts to Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld and Kevin Wimmer whilst goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, is in line to start after recovering from a fractured wrist.

Referee: Jonathan Moss 
Match odds: United 8/13 Draw 31/10 Spurs 11/2












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