Having crashed out of the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League with a dramatic 3-2 loss at the hands of VfL Wolfsburg last week, Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United found themselves in Monday’s Europa League draw.
United finished as one of the four best third-placed Champions League teams, meaning they were seeded for the draw of the round of thirty two in the Europa League.
Their possible opponents included Shinji Kagawa and Borussia Dortmund, last year’s winners, Sevilla – and of course Gary Neville’s Valencia.
Also in contention to be drawn against for Van Gaal and his men were Fenerbahce, who now boast the talents of former United superstars Luis Nani and Robin van Persie; the men Van Gaal decided to axe last summer.
An Old Trafford return for the duo would have been intimidating for the Red Devils, but they won’t be coming back to Manchester just yet – they were drawn against Lokomotiv Moscow.
United’s opponents
Manchester United on the other hand were drawn against Danish side FC Midtjylland. The Wolves were formed just four days before United’s 8-1 thrashing of Nottingham Forest… in 1999!
They are no pushovers though, boasting two fairly recognisable internationals in Finland’s Tim Sparv and Denmark’s Jakob Poulsen. They overcame Southampton in the play-off round of this season’s competition, too.
Key dates
18th February 2015: FC Midtjylland vs Manchester United25th February 2015: Manchester United vs FC Midtjylland
Manchester United are currently scheduled to play Arsenal just two days after the second leg of the Europa League tie, on the 27th February. However, it is likely this will be moved to the following day (Sunday 28th).
