Predicting how Manchester United are going to line up is becoming an almost impossible task nowadays. Nobody would have anticipated Noussair Mazraoui starting in the attacking-midfield position against Fenerbahce on Thursday night, nor would many have expected to see Victor Lindelof's name in the starting XI.
In the absence of Bruno Fernandes in Istanbul, it was widely expected United manager Erik ten Hag would push Christian Eriksen further forward.
But it was Mazraoui who started just behind lone frontman Joshua Zirkzee. It was an experiment that failed to pay off. Zirkzee, who is showing few signs of being the natural goalscorer United needed in the summer, would have been a more suitable replacement for Fernandes in the No.10 berth.
His link-up play is his biggest strength. Amad, too, was also an option Ten Hag overlooked. READ MORE: United player ratings as Christian Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte good vs Fenerbahce READ MORE: United coach hit with FA charge following angry tunnel rant At the base of the engine room, however, Ten Hag's decision to hand Manuel Ugarte his first start since the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on September 29 was fully justified, with the Uruguayan producing his best performance for the club to date.