But a Premier League season is 38 games long and United have timed their run to perfection.Having climbed into the top four after their 37th game (a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham), United confirmed third place with their 2-0 win at Leicester on the final day. Either he sticks with the Spaniard as the established but increasingly error-prone No 1 or shakes things up by picking the Englishman just back from a successful loan spell at Sheffield United.Henderson hasn't made things any easier by stating he has no intention of being De Gea's understudy this season and would rather go out on loan again.United's first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea (right) will come under increased scrutiny following Dean Henderson's (left) return to the club following a loan to Sheffield United.In reality, it's likely both will get their opportunity at some stage in what will be a hectic and intense season across four competitions.As much as Solskjaer has backed De Gea in the past, the Spaniard will be well aware that any mistakes will now be accompanied by the prospect of losing his place for some time.He will likely take the gloves against Palace but the pressure on him has certainly increased.United fans sadly won't be allowed inside Old Trafford this weekend but they're buzzing to see the impact of Donny van de Beek, their new £40m arrival from Ajax.The Dutch midfielder impressed during last weekend's friendly at Aston Villa and Solskjaer will hope he can add something different to United's midfield.He's the club's only summer signing to date and given other midfield options are short of match sharpness, Van de Beek is likely to make his competitive debut.Van de Beek should have the adaptability to slot into United's midfield whether Solskjaer plays a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 and work alongside whoever else plays in there.While hoping Van de Beek isn't United's only summer arrival, fans will be keen to see what he can do this weekend.New boy Donny van de Beek impressed against Villa and is likely to start on Saturday.With regards the rest of United's midfield, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes only returned to Carrington at the beginning of the week.It raises questions over whether the pair will be fit enough to start against Palace, though Solskjaer did confirm on Friday that the Frenchman is ready for action having recovered from coronavirus.It may be though that Solskjaer starts him only on the bench and favours Scott McTominay alongside Van de Beek in deep midfield as he did at Villa Park last weekend.That would give Pogba and Fernandes additional time to get up to speed for forthcoming league games against Brighton and Tottenham.Paul Pogba in high spirits during training this week but he may not start against Palace,Fernandes works on his strength in the gym this week but the game could come too soon.If club player of the season Fernandes doesn't feature, his No 10 role will most likely go to Jesse Lingard, who looked certain to leave Old Trafford this summer but could yet see out the final year of his contract.Lingard ended a lengthy Premier League goal drought by scoring on the final day at Leicester but then barely featured in the Europa League finals out in Germany.The arrival of Van de Beek also suggested Lingard's days at United are numbered but a positive performance here to build on his decent end to last season may hint otherwise.Jesse Lingard celebrates his goal against Leicester City on the final day of last season.We’ve already mentioned James and Lingard, but the rest of United’s forward line should be pretty normal.Marcus Rashford skipped England duty a fortnight ago due to a shortage of match fitness but should be available for this season-opener.Likewise Anthony Martial, who was in outstanding form towards the end of last season.Martial will take the centre-forward position with Rashford in his usual left-side station.

They reached the final of the competition in 1968, 1999, 2008, 2009 and 2011. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook.

After all, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer guided his team to third -- the best of the rest after Liverpool and Manchester City-- …


Unlike Liverpool, City and even Tottenham, who reached the final in 2019, United have never looked like challenging Europe's best sides in the post-Ferguson era, and Solskjaer's team is unlikely to restore the club's old reputation as a Champions League superpower next season. ... Quarter and semi-final draws. The official UEFA Champions League fixtures and results list. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad has been stretched to the limit with injuries and match fitness a major concern as they prepare to face,It leaves the Norwegian facing a number of selection dilemmas for their,Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a number of selection dilemmas ahead of Manchester United's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday evening,United's players (left to right) Juan Mata, Eric Bailly, Odion Ighalo and Bruno Fernandes at work in the gym this week after a pre-season that has lasted just over a month.Greenwood hasn't exactly enjoyed the best start to the new season after being sent home from England duty in disgrace.The 18-year-old broke Covid-19 protocols when he and Phil Foden invited two girls into the England team hotel in Reykjavik.Solskjaer revealed on Friday that United had asked England manager Gareth Southgate not to select Greenwood - who made his senior international debut against Iceland - because he needed more rest following the short off-season.The teenager initially trained alone at Carrington after returning home as a Covid precaution but has since been reintegrated within Solskjaer's squad.Mason Greenwood may miss the Palace game with Solskjaer admitted he needs more rest,Greenwood (right) up against Victor Lindelof during one of United's training sessions this week.Solskjaer's comments about Greenwood needing more rest casts doubt on whether he'll be involved from the start - or at all - against Palace.That could mean a start for Dan James on the right side of United's attack. They say that the league table never lies, but on this occasion it might have been slightly economical with the truth.United have struggled all season long to climb into the Champions League spots, and after drawing at home to Liverpool on Oct 1, Solskjaer's team had entered the Old Trafford record books for the wrong reasons by recording the club's worst start to a season since the Premier League began in 1992.
The 2008 Champions League final in Moscow was an all-English affair, with Chelsea taking on Manchester United.