How Man Utd’s starting XI this season compares to the team that beat Leicester 2-1 in last campaign’s opener after disastrous transfer window – The Sun
OLE GUNNAR SOLKSJAER is set to start the new season with a very different side to the one Jose Mourinho picked 12 months ago.
Facing Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday, the Red Devils could make around six changes after overhauling their defence in the transfer window.
Some have criticised Ed Woodward for failing to secure a new attacking midfielder this summer after Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen slipped their grasp.
But the major additions of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, plus young winger Dan James, makes for much better reading than the previous year's efforts – despite a small portion of overreacting fans.
The summer of 2019 saw only flop midfielder Fred and reserve full-back Diogo Dalot arrive to bolster the side.
The Brazilian started Mourinho's opening weekend win over Leicester last time out but won't be selected by Solskjaer.
Other faces set to be dropped include Matteo Darmian, the injured Eric Bailly, Andreas Pereira and Alexis Sanchez.
In addition, substitutes Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini have both left the club.
Goalkeeper David De Gea will once again be first-choice with Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof both favourites of the current boss.
Shaw started and scored in the 2-1 win over Leicester but became a publicly ridiculed figure by Mourinho.
SCOTT TO START
With his new signings installed in defence, Solskjaer will start Scott McTominay after the midfielder's impressive form in pre-season.
Paul Pogba is set to join him despite a summer of speculation and Nemanja Matic is another of the boss' most trusted players – much to fans' chagrin.
In a 4-3-1-2 formation, United are likely to line up with Jesse Lingard in behind Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
An alternative selection could see newboy James come in for Matic and start on the flank, should Solskjaer prefer a more attacking front against a dangerous first day opponent.
Red Devils fans hope the side put out against Chelsea will have new life breathed into it after the disappointing start to 2018/19.
It was all downhill after the victory over Leicester as Mourinho's men were beaten away at Brighton and thrashed at home by Spurs.
Solskjaer still faces a tough job to reinvigorate the team having watched his side lose three and draw two of their final five games last season, dampening any sense of much-needed momentum.
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