Pranav Nair
Manchester United will face either Istanbul Basaksehir or FC Copenhagen
The Europa League offers Manchester United another opportunity to return to the UEFA Champions League.
The Red Devils today discovered who they will play in the quarter-finals, provided LASK do not pull off the unexpected at Old Trafford. After the first-leg, United have a 5-0 lead over the Austrians.
Our luck shone through once again as we will face either Istanbul Basaksehir or FC Copenhagen. The Turks won the first leg 1-0 and will take the slender lead into the second leg.
With the likes of Sevilla, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and AS Roma all in the fray, the club has done well to draw a comparatively easier opponent.
United have never faced Basaksehir before. Copenhagen on the other hand is another issue with us facing them in group stages of the UEFA Champions League in 2006. We won the home tie 3-0 but fell to a shock 1-0 loss in Denmark.
For long the Europa League looked to be our best bet at a return to Europe’s premier competition. But with our domestic form improving dramatically, we now find ourselves within a point off fourth spot.
The Red Devils have been absolute juggernauts in Europe this season. We have scored 21 goals while conceding just three in nine games. We have lost just once in a shock away trip defeat to Astana.
Mason Greenwood is our top scorer in the competition with five goals. Given the form he is in, the tally is only bound to get higher.
With our front three firing all cylinders and Paul Pogba returning to form, we are now a much more daunting proposition. It wouldn’t be amiss to call us one of the favourites for the competition.
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United last won the competition in 2017. History could repeat once again as we aim to return to where we belong.
