The Capital One Cup 3rd Round, Wednesday 23rd September 2015, Old Trafford Manchester, Kick Off 20:00 local time
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Young, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini, Pereira, Rooney
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Jones, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Memphis, Martial.
This tournament has traditionally been used, by Manchester United, as a chance to blood youngsters and give peripheral squad members more minutes.
But, with silverware, much harder to come by over the last couple of years, and neighbours Manchester City putting out a strong team against Sunderland on Tuesday night, perhaps even the big boys are taking this competition more seriously these days.
It could, after all, be the difference between a manager keeping his job at the end of the season – a trophy of any kind could be used as evidence of progress.
Whatever team is put out by Manchester United, these games tend to be open affairs (sometimes too open judging by Manchester United’s hammering at the hands of MK Dons last season) with a liberal smattering of free flowing football away from the schackles of Premier League pressure.
And the team sheet, while youthful in areas, represents a commitment to winning this one and going as far as possible in the competition.
If nothing else it keeps the fixtures flowing and brings added revenue to Manchester United.
