In what could be the final set of group matches in the UEFA Champions League ever ahead of the introduction of a new format next season, Manchester United face a must-win Group A tie at home to Bayern Munich.
To finish second and get through to the last 16, Man Utd need to beat Bayern and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw when they meet in Denmark.
Speaking ahead of the crucial Old Trafford encounter, Erik ten Hag put the team's inconsistent form this season down to injuries in defence.
"[Last year], we had a regular team, with not so many changes, especially in our backline," Ten Hag told Man Utd's official website.
"We had a long time [with] a regular formation and that helps you. Then you get the routines in. So we have to wait for that [but] until that moment, we have to deal with it, as every team has to deal with it. It's not only us.
"But I'm sure when we get back to a regular base, then we will play better. You have a better opportunity to win games and a better opportunity of a chance that you are consistent."
If United defeat Bayern and there is a winner in Denmark, they will finish third and drop down to the UEFA Europa League. But a draw at Old Trafford will not be enough to finish third, as Ten Hag's side lose the tiebreaker against both Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
20:00 GMT Man Utd v Bayern; Copenhagen v Galatasaray
Group A standings
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Bayern | 13 | +5 |
| Copenhagen | 5 | -1 |
| Galatasaray | 5 | -2 |
| Man Utd | 4 | -2 |
Scott McTominay says the squad is firmly behind Ten Hag and that there is harmony in the dressing room, unlike under previous managers.
"We have had many amazing players and right now we are at the stage where we have big characters in the dressing room," the midfielder said. "It is not just a case of like [with] some of the other managers where it has been a little bit toxic at times - the boys are firmly behind the manager.
"We've got amazing coaching staff. We just want to do well for the football club and it's as simple as that."
Arteta to give youth a chance?
Mikel Arteta can use Arsenal's trip to PSV Eindhoven as an opportunity to hand invaluable European experience to some younger players after the Gunners booked their spot in the last 16 as Group B winners following their 6-0 thumping of Lens last time out.
17:45 GMT PSV v Arsenal; Lens v Sevilla
Group B standings
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
|
Arsenal
|
12 | +12 |
|
PSV
|
8 | -2 |
|
Lens
|
5 | -6 |
|
Sevilla
|
2 | -4 |
As well as welcoming back Emile Smith Rowe following a spell on the sidelines, Academy prospects Lino Sousa, Reuell Walters, both 18 years old, and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, are also part of the squad.
“They are three big prospects,” Arteta said during his pre-match press conference.
“We want to bring a lot of players from a system and they deserve to be here. The circumstances have got them into this position.
"They’re still really, really young but we want to get them the experience because they have the talent hopefully to be very close to us. We’ll try to give them the opportunity if we can in the right moment."
Nwaneri has already made his first-team debut, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history when he came on as a substitute at Brentford in September 2022 aged 15 years and 181 days old. If he plays in Eindhoven, he would become the club’s youngest player in UEFA competition.
The Arsenal manager revealed he can see similarities in Nwaneri's playing style to that of former Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere.
"There’s something unique that he’s got that I really liked from the beginning, his ability to take the ball in tight areas and to escape a little bit like Jack Wilshere used to do.
"The personality he has, he trains with us like he trains with the Under-18s or Under-16s, and I love that in a player. He’s got that bit between his teeth as well that he wants to show every single day how good he is and to impress people."
Arteta went on to stress the importance of the club’s Academy producing more first-team players.
“We need to get the machine going because we want more of those [young players] and we have to produce more of those,” he added.
“There’s a lot of work going into the academy and that’s big credit to all of them every single day for the amount of work that they’re putting in. They do a lot, they’ve planted the seeds and now we need to bring them up.”
