How Will Manchester United Line-Up Next Season?

There’s a genuine excitement bubbling around Old Trafford at the moment. The devil on Manchester United’s shoulder has pummelled and buried the angel, and Jose Mourinho’s unerring declaration of victory in his first press conference was a perfect antidote to the tragic tenures of David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal.

Mourinho has quickly got to work, too. Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been brought in, and while the potential record-breaking deal for Paul Pogba might prove to be a step too far, it makes it clear what position Mourinho’s fourth and supposedly final signature of the summer will, hopefully, improve upon.

Because of this recent face-lift, Manchester United fans are already beginning to speculate over how they’ll line-up next season, and whether it will be enough for them to challenge for Premier League title come May.

Of course, it’s still too early to confidently declare either the formation or starting 11 that Mourinho will choose for United’s match against either Leicester City in the FA Community Shield or away at Bournemouth in the opening Premier League match the week after. Injuries, purchases, and a poor pre-season could change everything.

But having been tried and tested by Mourinho throughout his tenures with Chelsea and while at Real Madrid, Porto, and Inter Milan, it’s extremely unlikely that he will defer from a 4-2-3-1 formation, especially since his signings slot nicely into it, too. Mourinho will also want to keep to his strengths before even considering bending to the fans’ pleas for an old-fashioned 4-4-2.

Only David De Gea, Chris Smalling, a returning Luke Shaw, and Anthony Martial look set to keep their positions from last season, though. Right back is anyone’s guess, as, despite slightly impressing at Euro 2016 for Antonio Conte’s Italy, Mateo Darmian is still yet to prove himself at United. Personally I’d love to see Phil Jones given a chance to firmly adapt to the position, where his occasionally lapses in concentration won’t be punished as frequently, and his strength, speed, and willingness to go forward will come in use.

You’d imagine that, having spent £30 million on him, Eric Bailly will be Mourinho’s first choice alongside Smalling, but expect utility man Daley Blind to deputise as the Ivorian adjusts to his new surroundings. Meanwhile it will be a delight to see the returning Shaw back on the field after breaking his leg so horrifically last September.

Manchester United’s midfield is where Mourinho will have to work the most wonders. United’s play repeatedly got bogged down her under Louis Van Gaal, and Mourinho already appears to have made steps to correct this by adding, and ear-marking, more penetrative players in the shape of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba.

Morgan Schneiderlin could be deployed as a midfield enforcer and to provide protection, with Pogba or someone of his ilk alongside him to connect defence to attack. Jose Mourinho’s declaration regarding Wayne Rooney suggests that he’ll be deployed off the front-man in the middle of an attacking midfield three, with Mkhitaryan starting on the right, Martial on the left, and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford contesting for the one striking berth.

That’s the current plan. I think. But, as is usually the case with Manchester United in the summer, a couple of swoops and sales could easily render the above obsolete. Thankfully, we don’t have much longer to wait to see our first look at Jose Mourinho’s intended set-up, as United take on Wigan on Saturday in what will be his very first match in charge as Red Devils manager.