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4-3-3: Mourinho must field this Man Utd XI to dominate Sunderland on Boxing Day

Our Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern are feeling confident about the second half of this season all of a sudden.

Despite seeing their team struggle for much of the opening months of the year Jose Mourinho’s men now look like they are following his exact instructions.

Indeed, it does seem as though Mourinho knows his best team now, too, and they certainly look a much more cohesive unit these days after a stuttering start.

The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have all shown their class to varying degrees in recent games and so, ahead of the rest of the season, many of the opposition fans here in the Transfer Tavern are beginning to be concerned.

United will surely only get better, now, and our landlord reckons the renaissance will continue if they play this XI against Sunderland…

 GK: David De Gea

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Through the good times and the bad ones De Gea has been a constant, brilliant presence.

He’s bound to start for this one.

 RB: Antonio Valencia

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaks with Antonio Valencia

Gone are the days where this man was a winger.

He’s turned himself into a right back and done a decent job whilst there’s little competition for the spot right now – he’ll definitely start.

 CB: Phil Jones

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Jones is beginning to remind us why he was so highly thought of at Blackburn Rovers.

He’s come into the side brilliantly and will take some serious budging when Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly are fit.

 CB: Marcos Rojo

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Fortunately for Bailly and Smalling, though, this man is more than likely to come out of the side.

He’s been fairly solid but also quite reckless at times and so, whilst he’ll start here, he’s not a permanent fixture.

Matteo Darmian

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The Italian left back is Mourinho’s first choice ahead of Daley Blind and so he should start here.

Our landlord reckons a new left back in January could be on the agenda though for the Manchester club.

 CM: Michael Carrick

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Carrick is top drawer and so it’s no surprise that he’s been a big part of why United have turned their fortunes around.

He let’s the other players get forward freely with them safe in the knowledge he’s going to find them with his passing range.

 CM: Ander Herrera

Ander Herrera

Ander has been a bit of a revelation this season and combines work-rate with technical ability well.

He’s a very tenacious footballer and looks to have properly adapted to the Premier League this year.

 CM: Paul Pogba

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Pogba is beginning to look the business now and will be aiming to continue that into next year.

He’s still got things to improve on but improving is just what he’s shown he can do over the last few months.

 RW: Jesse Lingard

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Lingard had a storming game last time out against West Brom and deserves to play here.

He’s improved greatly this season and will now need to kick on and find consistency to reach that next level.

 ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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If there were any doubts about this man being unable to cut it any more they have surely gone now.

He just knows how to score goals and, to be frank, looks like he’s still got plenty more in the tank.

 LW: Marcus Rashford

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Rashford has gone a little bit quiet of late but that was to be expected after his incredible breakthrough.

Our landlord thinks he should start for this one, though, and use his pace to see off Sunderland.

Agree, United fans? Let us know below!



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