Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has opened up on why he made three changes to his team for the trip to Nottingham Forest, with Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot all starting.
The Red Devils have made three changes to their side from the one which drew 2-2 with Sevilla on Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. Ten Hag's side had taken a two-goal lead, but threw it away with the tie now finely poised heading into next week's second leg.
The draw also saw United lose two of their top defenders, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both forced off with injury. Martinez has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign, with concerns that Varane will also not be seen again in a United shirt until next season.
As a result, Ten Hag has been forced to change both of his starting centre-backs for the Premier League trip to Forest. Club captain Maguire will now partner Lindelof in the heart of the Red Devils' defence against the relegation-threatened Midlanders, with Ten Hag giving them his full backing.
"They have the rhythm, play together often and have the experience. They have to show they are in this team. I have four really good centre halves, now it is up to them," Ten Hag said.
"We are in the position we want to be in, not many clubs in Europe are still fighting for three trophies. The title is gone but (reaching) the Champions League is the aim and also a trophy."
The decision to drop Tyrell Malacia in favour of Dalot was a surprising one, but Ten Hag revealed that was also down to injury.
"He had a sore knee and already he was struggling in the week, today it was too bad to start, " he added.
“Points get more expensive and you have to fight for it like against Brentford and Everton. We were maybe only good for 55 minutes v Sevilla and then you get hammered. We have to act as machines.
“For us every game is big - FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Europa League, every game. That is the approach, he (Martial) is happy he is on the pitch. We need all 11 players with a performance, a team performance and when we do that we have a good chance to win the game."
Luke Shaw did not travel to Nottingham for the game, having also missed the draw with Sevilla. In his place, Malacia started against the LaLiga side, but scored the own-goal which saw the visitors get back into the game.
He has dropped out of the squad entirely for the trip to the City Ground, with Dalot instead starting at left-back. The rest of the line-up is unchanged, with means David de Gea will again continue in goal.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka lines up at right-back, with Lindelof and Maguire at centre-back and Dalot completing the back four. Casemiro will make his first Premier League appearance since being sent off against Southampton more than a month ago at the base of midfield.
He is partnered by Marcel Sabitzer in defensive midfield, with Bruno Fernandes lining up just ahead of them. Jadon Sancho and Antony will continue on the wings, while Anthony Martial is again preferred to Wout Weghorst up-front.
Manchester United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Dalot; Casemiro, Sabitzer; Fernandes, Antony, Sancho, Martial.
