Having won the first leg 4-0 away from home, it’s fair to say that Manchester United are through to the next round of the Europa League.
Dismantling Real Sociedad in Rome, the Red Devils will go into Thursday’s game fully confident of securing qualification, and it appears their manager Imanol knows the tie is over.
While they could have travelled to Old Trafford with a full side in hope of shocking everyone, the La Liga manager has instead decided to rest two of his star players: his captain Asier Illaramendi and summer free transfer and former Manchester City star David Silva.
This news is brought by Mundo Deportivo, who reveal the ‘two surprising absences, seen as Imanol ‘implicitly sending the message that the Europa League tie against United is lost’.
He’s also called up three players from the B team in Unai Ruiz-Zeberio, Unai Marrero and Urko González de Zárate, clearly intent on giving them a good experience.
