Erik ten Hag has announced Manchester United’s line-up for the second semi-final of the EFL Cup. The coach again opts for Wout Weghorst in the striker and gives Tim Heaton a basic place instead of first goalkeeper David de Gea. The Red Devils were 0-3 too strong for Nottingham Forest in the first leg last Wednesday, thanks in part to a goal from Weghorst. The return at Old Trafford kicks off at 9 p.m.
Last weekend, Manchester United beat Reading 3-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup. In that duel, Ten Hag lost one of his strongholds with Christian Eriksen. The Dane injured his ankle after a charge from Andy Carroll and is expected to be out for three months. United took Marcel Sabitzer away from Bayern Munich on a rental basis on Tuesday, but the Austrian is not yet in Ten Hag’s selection.
Ten Hag could not keep his dissatisfaction after the game to himself and denounced Carroll’s rude behavior. “You take such a big risk to injure a colleague,” Ten Hag began. “The tackle on Eriksen and those two tackles afterwards, they don’t belong on the football field,” said the 52-year-old manager. In the absence of Eriksen, the controlling block in midfield is formed by Casemiro and Fred.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf relinquish their places to Raphaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez, while Tyrell Malacia again has to tolerate Luke Shaw at left back. Marcus Rashford gets a match rest from Ten Hag. United’s top scorer is 18 goals and six assists in all competitions. Alejandro Garnacho plays in his place, while Antony can be found on the right flank. The match for the final place in the EFL Cup can be followed live at via play.
Manchester United line-up: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Martinez, Varane, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Weghorst
Lineup Nottingham Forest: nb