The international break helped Erik Ten Hag reorganise Manchester United, who have begun to show consistent performance domestically. Against Twente at Old Trafford, only a win is expected from the team, and the return of their main forward Rasmus Højlund should be the key to breaking down the unstable Dutch side.
In the last 10 days, Manchester United have kept clean sheets in three matches, dominating Southampton (3:0) and Barnsley (7:0). Unfortunately, they couldn't secure three points against Crystal Palace (0:0), but they were closer to winning by the numbers (1.86 vs 1.03 in xG and 15-9 in shots). It's likely that Rasmus Højlund, Marcus Rashford, and Manuel Ugarte will start in the Europa League — all came off the bench on Saturday, and the presence of the Uruguayan in the midfield can boost their attacking tempo.
Twente have collected 7 out of a possible 11 points in the Eredivisie since the international break, aided by a relatively easy schedule. On Sunday, they managed to beat Almere City (5:0) despite the relegation zone team being more dangerous by the numbers (1.20 vs 1.61 in xG). Injured midfielders Michal Sadílek and Younes Taha will be missed in Manchester, both would have been key options for the team.
Due to missing out on the Champions League, Manchester United need to show their best in the Europa League. Starting against Twente is convenient for Erik Ten Hag — a confident victory will endear them to the fans.
