12 December 2023 , 06:00
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Manchester United face Bayern Munich in a crucial final Champions League group game at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
United are bottom of Group A following a rollercoaster campaign which has been defined by inconsistency. Erik ten Hag is under huge pressure coming into the game following a shocking 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Cherries became the third team to win by that score line at Old Trafford this season and another such loss to Bayern would leave Ten Hag in a tricky position, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to take control when his £1.3billion deal for 25 per cent of the club goes through soon. Bayern won the reverse fixture 4-3 back in September and have Harry Kane, who has scored 22 goals in 19 games, in their ranks. Here is what United need to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
How United can reach the last 16
Bayern Munich are top of Group A and have already qualified – and secured top spot – with 13 points from their five games. As such, Thomas Tuchel’s side don’t need a result on Tuesday and the Bayern manager may be tempted to rotate his side, who were surprisingly thrashed 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to leave them four points adrift of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
United are in fourth place on four points, one behind Copenhagen, in second, and Galatasaray in third. Ten Hag’s side have won just one of their previous five fixtures and don’t have their fate in their own hands.
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Harry Kane scored in Bayern Munich's 4-3 win over Manchester United in September (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Manchester United reach the last 16 of the Champions League? Comment below.
Simply put, United have to win and hope Copenhagen draw with Galatasaray in the Danish capital. That would leave United on seven points and their two rivals on six each and secure their progression in second place.
Copenhagen surrendered a 2-0 lead in Istanbul to draw 2-2 with Galatasaray back in September after a red card left them with 10 men. A repeat of that result would be ideal for United, who drew 3-3 in their last outing in the Champions League against Galatasaray.
Ten Hag thinks they can do it
Bayern have not lost a Champions League group game since 2017 and United have only managed to pick up one win in the competition this season – a 1-0 victory over Copenhagen in October – but Ten Hag believes his side can still do it.
”What I know is I never think in negative scenarios,” said Ten Hag. “We think positive. We know what to do - we have to win to stay in Europe, so we'll prepare the team with that belief, that feeling that we are able to do it. I think we have shown in the last weeks that, when we are at our best, we can do it.”
He added: “We are not consistent, that's clear, but we can have very good performances and highs. When we get it, we are able to beat any opponent.
"The game against Chelsea, the game against Everton, the game against Galatasaray. I know this team can perform at really high levels. But it starts with the right attitude. We have to work on that.”