The wait is over. Manchester United have discovered which opponents they will face in the group stage of this season’s Uefa Champions League.
After winning the Uefa Europa League to secure a return to Europe’s elite competition, United found themselves in a relatively easy group including Benfica, FC Basel and CSKA Moscow. But, following last season’s European success, Jose Mourinho has previously made it clear United fear nobody.
With priorities set on the Premier League this season, Mourinho had hoped for limiting traveling through the group stages, but a trip to Russia, the home of CSKA Moscow, is far from ideal and with an artificial pitch at the VEB Arena it brings a new challenge.
Moreover, United avoiding Qarabag comes with some relief. Due to political tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Armenian citizens are forbidden from entering the country, therefore, ruling out any possibility of Henrikh Mkhitaryan featuring in the away fixture. So far this season Mkhitayran has stamped his authority on the English game, assisting four goals in two games, so his absence from the team would prove anything but beneficial.
The next step is progressing from the group stages to the round of sixteen, which for United is totally achievable. Mourinho returning to Benfica, where he held position as manager, will make the headlines, and the tie may see new signing Victor Lindelof play against his old former club should he find a way into the United line-up by then.
But United cannot underestimate the teams they have been drawn against in Group A. When the Old Trafford club last faced Benfica and Basel in the group stages, back in 2011, Alex Ferguson’s side were eliminated and thrown into the Europa League.
So, it goes without saying that qualification is well within reach, but the other three clubs — Benfica, Basel and CSKA — have nothing to lose when facing United, as they go into the tie as underdogs. And if United are to warrant a place in the Champions League each year they cannot throw away such an opportunity to reach the knockout stages.
There can be no excuse for shortcomings. Mourinho and his players worked hard for this last year and there’s no reason this United side cannot push for glory in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Group Prediction
Manchester United
Benfica
CSKA Moscow
Basel
