Manchester United will host Galatasaray on matchday 2 of the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League Group A. The MU vs. Galatasaray match at Old Trafford is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 02:00 AM WIB (Western Indonesia Time).
MU and Galatasaray last met in the group stage of the 2012/2013 UEFA Champions League. MU won 1-0 through a single goal by Michael Carrick at Old Trafford but then lost 0-1 to a single goal by Burak Yilmaz in Turkey.
Head-to-head record in the European Cup/Champions League:
Manchester United wins: 2
Draws: 3
Galatasaray wins: 1
There is hope in the air as Wilfried Zaha prepares for the match against Manchester United in the early hours. The Galatasaray forward is optimistic that his team can achieve a good result at Old Trafford.
Galatasaray is currently in England to face Manchester United in the second match of Group A in the 2023/2024 Champions League. Leading up to this game, the home team’s form hasn’t been great, with Manchester United recently suffering a loss to Crystal Palace.
Zaha expressed his eagerness to face his former club, saying, “I personally can’t wait to play this game,” as quoted by Manchester Evening News. Zaha acknowledged that Manchester United shouldn’t be underestimated just because they have had some recent poor results. However, he believes that Galatasaray has the quality to secure a victory at Old Trafford.
“Yes, they [Man United] have a good team. But on the other hand, we also have several players who can hurt them even more,” Zaha added. He is quite optimistic that his team can secure a victory against Manchester United in the early hours.
He believes that Galatasaray has a strong squad, which gives them the potential to win at Old Trafford. Zaha stated, “I think with the help of our manager, we are ready for this match. We have a lot of top talent in this team, so we have rich experience to play games like this.”
Galatasaray comes to Manchester United in excellent condition, having won three consecutive matches and is prepared to extend that streak at Old Trafford.
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has cautioned his team to give their best performance when facing Galatasaray. He believes that the Turkish representatives will provide a fierce challenge in this match.
Manchester United will welcome a special guest in the middle of the week. The Red Devils will host Galatasaray in the second match of Group A in the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League.
Leading up to this game, Manchester United is in a less than ideal situation. The Red Devils suffered a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace over the weekend.
Ten Hag mentioned that Galatasaray has a significant chance of causing trouble for MU in this match. “We are well aware of the quality they [Galatasaray] possess,” Ten Hag said, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
Ten Hag believes that Manchester United has many reasons to be extra cautious when hosting Galatasaray. He stated that Galatasaray has an excellent squad with talented players, including Zaha and Icardi, but also others like Mertens and Ziyech.
Ten Hag believes that Manchester United needs to play at their best if they want to defeat Galatasaray. He also demands that his team work hard both in attack and defense to secure their first points.
Manchester United’s mission is to earn their first points in the group stage of the 2023/2024 Champions League. In the previous match, the Red Devils lost 4-3 to Bayern Munich.
The club is currently experiencing a challenging period, with issues including injuries and internal problems. Joel and Avram Glazer are the major holdouts, while their six other siblings have agreed to sell their shares to the highest bidder.
In the midst of Manchester United’s struggles, there are reports that the Glazer Family may be leaving Old Trafford. Potential buyers, including tycoons from the Middle East and Sir Jim Ratcliffe of INEOS, are waiting to finalize the purchase.
According to journalist Neil Custis of The Sun, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani from Qatar is expected to complete the purchase of Manchester United within the next two weeks. He is committed to improving various aspects of the club, including providing funds for new player transfers, hiring staff, settling the club’s substantial debt, and investing £2 billion in other areas to support the team.
Sheikh Jassim intends to support coach Erik Ten Hag by providing the best facilities and staff, aiming to enhance the team’s quality. He is also committed to paying off the club’s significant debt, which currently stands at £800 million, accumulated during the Glazer family’s ownership.
Manchester United’s ownership situation may change for the better with Sheikh Jassim’s arrival, as he is willing to invest a substantial amount to revamp the club. However, these plans can only come to fruition once he is officially announced as the club’s owner.
For now, Manchester United remains under the control of the Glazer Family. If all goes smoothly, Sheikh Jassim is expected to take over in mid-October.
Joel and Avram Glazer are the main holdouts in retaining their ownership shares at Old Trafford. Their firm stance has prolonged the sale process, which has been ongoing for nine months without a definitive resolution.
In the upcoming Champions League match, Manchester United will face Galatasaray. The Red Devils will host the Turkish representatives at Old Trafford. However, Manchester United’s recent form has been poor, with a recent loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Coach Erik Ten Hag is frustrated with his team’s performance, and this situation presents an opportunity for Galatasaray to secure points, especially after their draw against Copenhagen in the previous Group A match. In contrast, Manchester United has no points in the group after losing to Bayern Munich.
Galatasaray’s chances of earning points have improved due to several players’ absences, including Luke Shaw, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount, and Lisandro Martinez, who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury. Martinez’s absence is a concern for the future, as he is a key player for Manchester United. Despite these challenges, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s potential ownership of the club could bring positive changes to Manchester United, with significant investments planned for various aspects of the team. However, these plans are contingent on his official acquisition of the club, which may occur in mid-October.
For now, Manchester United remains under the control of the Glazer Family, with Joel and Avram Glazer holding firm in their ownership stance, while their six other siblings have agreed to sell their shares to potential buyers. The club has been facing a challenging period, with a recent poor run of results, including a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The situation has prompted discussions of potential ownership changes and significant investments to revitalize the club’s fortunes.
