Manchester United’s journey to Fenerbahce on Thursday shall be a day of reunions.
The Turkish aspect boast loads of acquainted faces of their squad, but it surely’s within the dugout the place probably the most recognisable characters in world soccer will sit. Former United supervisor Jose Mourinho will tackle United for the primary time since 2021, searching for revenge towards his previous employers.
Listed here are seven Fenerbahce stars Erik ten Hag’s aspect have to be cautious of forward of Thursday’s sport.
Since leaving Southampton in 2018, Dusan Tadic has been on an absolute tear. He racked up 105 targets and 112 assists in 241 video games for Ajax earlier than taking his abilities to Fenerbahce in 2023. Final season yielded 16 targets and 16 assists.
This yr, Tadic sits atop each the scoring and help charts, dazzling from a right-sided position that groups throughout Europe have up to now failed to deal with.
United are notably weak on the left for now, with each Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia not but match. Thankfully, in Erik ten Hag, they’ve the supervisor who set Tadic off on this rampant run of type six years in the past. If anybody ought to be capable to cease the Serbia worldwide, it is him.
You’ll possible want no introduction to Edin Dzeko, however maybe a mild reminder that he’s now thundering in targets for Fenerbahce.
Dzeko, previously of Manchester Metropolis, left Inter on a free switch in 2023 to move to Istanbul, and he is began this season with 9 targets from 14 video games. The 38-year-old may not be the athlete he was, however his eye for objective clearly has not disappeared.
He has fond recollections of going through United, having netted 9 instances in 11 conferences with the Crimson Devils throughout his time with Metropolis, Roma and Wolfsburg.
Like Dzeko, Allan Saint-Maximin is a well known star who made an under-the-radar swap to Fenerbahce.
The previous Newcastle United winger left Europe to affix Saudi Arabian aspect Al Ahli in 2023 however lasted simply 12 months earlier than agitating for a return, with Fenerbahce all too eager to increase the chance this previous summer season.
Saint-Maximin’s tough dribbling and love of aptitude have thus far yielded two targets and three assists this season from the left wing.
One in all many reunions approaching Thursday, Fred left United for Fenerbahce in 2023 and has completely loved his time since shifting.
With six targets and 11 assists from 45 appearances heading into this encounter, Fred has turn into the box-to-box risk United at all times hoped he can be, even when accidents tried to sluggish him down final season.
Mourinho has completely loved working with the Brazilian, whose scrappy, decided model of play was at all times going to make him a favorite of the boss.
Partnering Fred on the base of Fenerbahce’s midfield is one other acquainted face within the type of Sofyan Amrabat.
After an underwhelming mortgage with United final season, Amrabat inked a cope with Fenerbahce which is able to turn into everlasting subsequent summer season, with Mourinho completely satisfied to take a danger on the Morocco worldwide.
Simply how Amrabat feels about coming face-to-face with Ten Hag once more stays to be seen, however the 28-year-old will possible be relishing the possibility to indicate the Crimson Devils what they may have had.
Everybody’s favorite goalkeeper on the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship, Dominik Livakovic made the stunning transfer to Fenerbahce in 2023.
He is managed 22 clear sheets for the Turkish giants, flashing the immense shot-stopping means that helps propel Croatia deep into tournaments.
United have a historical past of arising towards impenetrable, lower-profile goalkeepers – shout-out to Omonia’s Francis Uzoho – and they’re going to hope that Livakovic doesn’t add his title to the listing.
There have at all times been switch rumours swirling round Mert Mulder, who looks like he at all times got here this shut to creating the transfer to the Premier League.
The 25-year-old Turkish right-back is a pleasant athlete, able to utilizing each pace and energy to get himself ahead and contain himself in assaults, as he did for a few years throughout his time with Sassuolo.
The suitable-sided mixture of Muldur and Tadic has brought on actual points for defenders this season, and you’ll assure Mourinho will set the 2 as much as decide on the bones of United’s weakened defence.
