Predicted Starting XI: Ajax vs Man United

Match Day Pundit
May 24, 2017
2 min read

This is simply the match that will define our season. It's the one that draws the line between a brilliant and a disastrous campaign. But which team will get us over the line come 9:45 PM?

Here we give our thoughts on which is the best lineup combination to beat a youthful Ajax side and take us back to the Champions League proper.

With the importance of this fixture very well documented, it's imperative that we select our strongest and freshest team that will do the job.

We all know Sergio Romero will start in goal after getting the assurance from the boss three weeks ago, so unless the worst happens, don't expect to see De Gea in action again.

Antonio Valencia is another must starter definitely, he's in form and the best choice we could want.

The left-back option becomes tricky depending on the center-back pairing the boss chooses. If the devil tells him to select Smalling, that would mean Daley Blind playing at left-back against his former team, while Jones becomes the left-sided center-back with Matteo Darmian dropping to the bench.

However, we think Jose will gaze at his crystal ball and select Jones to partner Blind at center-back and Darmian getting the nod at left-back with Rojo and Shaw still out.

Whatever happens in midfield will depend on the attacking forwards the boss chooses. If we go with three midfielders, we'll have to sacrifice one forward, hence play a 4-3-3 like formation.

And that's precisely what we think the boss will do, he'll select Carrick to sit at the base of midfield protecting the Bailly-less back four, which in turn will let Herrera and Pogba do their thing.

Marcus Rashford, Henrikh Mkhitryan and Anthony Martial could lead the line. Combining the pace and energy of the young duo plus the incisive passing and vision of the Armenian, we could have our best chance to score an early goal anytime.

This is just my personal opinion, so don't be surprised to see Marouane Fellaini start ahead of Juan Mata or Michael Carrick if he is fit!

The boss could also be tempted to start Jesse Lingard against all odds. But whoever the boss chooses will have to be faultless against a ruthless Ajax side.

Here is our preferred starting XI tonight, leave us a comment if you agree...