Erik ten Hag will rely on six Manchester United players in the Champions League this season

Manchester United will finally discover their Champions League group-stage opponents on Thursday evening.

United competed in the Europa League last season and the return of the iconic Champions League music will be warmly welcomed at Old Trafford.

There have been some special Champions League nights at Old Trafford over the years and after crashing out of Europe in a disappointing manner against Sevilla in 2022/23, it's hoped United will progress deep into this competition.

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Ahead of the group stage kicking off, we've looked at the players who will be the most important in the Champions League.

Andre Onana

The challenge of succeeding David de Gea, who will be remembered as a modern-day great, was never going to be a simple task, but Andre Onana has made a strong start to life in Manchester with a string of impressive performances.

Onana's arrival had the potential to have a transformational impact on the team this season and he's often seen adventuring in positions outside of his area that some goalkeepers wouldn't have the bravery to cover.

The multi-million-pound signing is an elite, ball-playing goalkeeper and he's shown he's a capable shot-stopper, which is crucial because his main responsibility is to prevent the opposition from finding the back of the net.

Onana reached the final of the Champions League with Inter Milan last season and although he was on the losing side in Istanbul, he delivered a passing masterclass, which led to videos of that display going viral on social media.

There are guaranteed to be Champions League games when Onana is needed to make saves and he should start each match.

Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw was exceptional last season and he's