Opposition in profile: FC Twente

There will be no room for sentiment when Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag welcome Eredivisie side FC Twente to Old Trafford.
The United boss still holds a torch for his former employers but will cast those feelings aside as his Reds team face the side he represented as a player when they come to M16 on Wednesday. 

And so it begins

United earned a spot in the new-look Europa League by virtue of winning the FA Cup and find ourselves in the first season of the competition's new format. We will face eight sides (four at home and four away) and need to finish in the first eight to progress straight through to the knockouts. 
A first ever competitive meeting with the Enschede-based Eredivisie side provides the Reds with a tricky early test and one which should provide an early examination of our European credentials. On paper, this a relatively kind looking encounter ahead of tougher tests to come at Porto and Fenerbahce, led by a certain Jose Mourinho.
Beyond that, Norwegians Bodo/Glimt (yes, an actual football team not a Wi-Fi password), PAOK and Rangers visit Old Trafford with trips to the Hungarian capital Bucharest and another new opponent in Czech side Viktoria Plzen.
But first things first, let's take a look at tomorrow's opponents who come to Old Trafford with no pressure and nothing to lose

Twente times, Twente times...

FC Twente are the last side from outside their country's traditional 'Big Three' (PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord) to win the Dutch title. We may not have ever played them before, but that's not to say there aren't links between the two sides. As already mentioned, ten Hag plied his trade for the men from Enschede in the early 00s, and their manager in that title winning season of 2009-10? Once of this parish, now departed for the sunnier climes of the Caribbean, Steve McClaren, who served as our number two under first Sir Alex and then ten Hag. Football really can move in mysterious ways sometimes...

This current crop have impressively muscled in on their nation's football status quo, blooding the noses of the Eredivisie's more established order. A third placed finish last term opened the door for a European return, and only a narrow 5-4 aggregate loss to RB Salzburg denied them a place at the top table.

Joseph Oosting has been the man at the helm at 'De Grolsch Veste' since last summer and is well known in his native Netherlands for producing and developing young talent whilst stringing together eye-catching results. As if to underline that trend, they will head to Old Trafford with confidence after a 5-0 thumping of Almere on Sunday. 

Whilst most of their squad will be largely unknown to those outside Enschede, the Reds will need to be wary of last season's top scorer, 22 year old, 19-goal attacking midfielder Sem Steijn. The wonderfully-named Ricky van Wolfswinkel may have endured a miserable spell in east Anglia with Norwich but has rediscovered his mojo under the tutelage of compatriot Oosting. Steijn scored twice in that aforementioned thrasing with van Wolfswinkel, Sam Lammers and Anass Salah - Eddine also on target. 

Despite never having played United before, FC Twente's record against sides from England leaves a lot to be desired. Our visitors have won just one of their last 13 meetings with English opponents in all competitions (D5L7), with 'Ze Tukkers' solitary win a 1-0 against Fulham back in 2011. 

Man United..

United have spent more seasons at this level than we would have liked in recent years since winning the tournament in 2016-17 (we were also runners up in 2021). We go into this term's tournament as among the favourites for victory alongside the likes of league phase rivals Porto, Olympiakos, Roma, Real Sociedad and our feeder club Ajax. 
United have had a promising start to the season with our summer signings catching the eye and a strong cup pedigree under ten Hag. 

The Reds will be without Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw but Rasmus Hojlund is fit again and in line to start. The young Dane's return to action is timely with United looking to increase their output in front of goal. Hojlund came on for the closing stages of the frustrating 0-0 draw in south London on Saturday which almost saw us punished for profligacy despite dominating most of the game. ten Hag may have one eye on Sunday's home game with Tottenham and with more margin for error in the expanded league phase. That said, he will want to avoid any early stumble so we still expect a strong side. 

Match odds: Man Utd to win 2/9
Draw 7/2
FC Twente to win: 8/4

Man United predicted XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Ugarte; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee. 
FC Twente predicted XI: Unnerstall; Van Rooj, Hilgers, Bruns, Salah - Eddine; Regeer, Eiting; Rots, Steijn, Van Bergen; Lammers.