With the 2017/18 season in progress, Champions League action is imminent, and the Manchester United squad is ready.
Last season, Manchester United were focused on one thing. Their focus was on securing a spot in the Champions League by any means possible. When a top four finish was looking unlikely, Jose Mourinho turned his focus to the Europa League as a means to get into the Champions League. At first, many were skeptical, but Jose Mourinho did the unlikely and it paid off.
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Compared to the 2016/17 season, Manchester United have a much more complete squad. For instance, the signing of Matic has allowed Pogba to roam freely. Pogba is now able to get in an advanced position; where he is more likely to score.
Also, Mourinho added Lukaku and Ibrahimovic to the Champions League squad, and they will play crucial roles in European action. Both of the strikers are proven goal scorers, and they both have the potential to be a big influence on their chance at silverware.
Additionally, Mkhitaryan will prove himself to be a dominant force. So far this season, the Armenian international has tallied five assists in three games. Mkhitaryan found himself being most helpful to the squad in the Europa League, but can he repeat his success?
How does United’s Champions League squad stack up against the competition?
For the group stages, Manchester United has a stacked roster. In the group, United will have to face Benfica, Moscow, and Basel. Even though the Red Devils secured an easy group, it is not guaranteed that they will make it out of the group.
Take a look at how all the teams stack up against each other:
Let’s say that United make it out of the group stages. In the elimination rounds, the competition will become much more challenging. For example, PSG added Neymar and Mbappe to their squad in the transfer window. It is possible that PSG will be the team to beat in the coming competition.
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In the end, Manchester United is looking like a much more dominant force compared to last season. With the additions of Lukaku, Lindelof, Matic, and the resigning of Ibrahimovic, it is possible that Manchester United will be a tough team to beat. With the guidance of Jose Mourinho, it is likely that the English giants will be a tough contender for the Champions League trophy.