Manchester United fans are in for a real eye-opener with how different the starting XI will look in the Champions League compared with the Red Devils’ last appearance.
The Red Devils are back in Europe for the 2026-27 campaign at Old Trafford and Manchester United will compete in the league phase format for the first time ever.
Michael Carrick learned more about the Red Devils’ forthcoming opponents on Thursday after the Champions League draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
United will play Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah at Old Trafford, while the Red Devils travel away against Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como.
Man Utd have only five players left from the last Champions League starting XI against Bayern Munich
Manchester United faced Bayern Munich on their last outing in the Champions League during the 2023-24 campaign under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils fell short in their Group A clash 1-0 after Kingsley Coman broke the deadlock between the two sides before United crashed out of the competition.
United finished bottom of Group A behind Galatasaray, Copenhagen and Bayern after only one win from their six matches in the Champions League season.
Erik ten Hag has since been sacked by United and the Red Devils have only five players left from the starting XI and six others have made their club exits.
However, only four players remain in the active United first-team squad under Michael Carrick after Andre Onana was loaned out in the summer window.
- GK: Andre Onana (stayed, but on loan)
- RB: Diogo Dalot (stayed)
- CB: Raphael Varane (left)
- CB: Harry Maguire (stayed)
- LB: Luke Shaw (stayed)
- CM: Sofyan Amrabat (left)
- CM: Scott McTominay (left)
- RW: Antony (left)
- AM: Bruno Fernandes (stayed)
- LW: Alejandro Garnacho (left)
- ST: Rasmus Hojlund (left)
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Man Utd’s last Champions League bench against Bayern Munich has received a major overhaul as well
Just like the Red Devils starting XI, United have seen their bench from the 1-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern undergo a dramatic transformation as well.
From the 10-man bench in the December 2023 clash, only four Man Utd players remain at Old Trafford ahead of the Red Devils’ Champions League return.
However, Altay Bayindir is in the same position as Andre Onana after he left Old Trafford for a season-long loan to La Liga club Celta Vigo in the summer.
- Altay Bayindir (stayed, but on loan)
- Tom Heaton (stayed)
- Jonny Evans (left)
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (left)
- Facundo Pellistri (left)
- Hannibal Mejbri (left)
- Kobbie Mainoo (stayed)
- Sergio Reguilon (left)
- Dan Gore (stayed)
- Joe Hugill (left)
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/dAphMrR