What is Manchester United’s strongest XI?

Option two: 4-3-3

The changes are rife from the first team. For those who really don’t rate Darmian and may be skeptical that Luke Shaw returns to peak fitness and form after his horrific leg injury of last season, the fullbacks are swapped out. Also for those who bet their money on father time to have a third round knockout in the heavyweight bout against Schweinsteiger.

This attacking 4-3-3 holds many of the same principals from the first option but it just drops Rooney a bit deeper to push Martial and Mkhitaryan further up the pitch. Ibrahimovic, as he does, will latch onto the last defender.

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Rooney proved in the Euros that he’s adept at not only playing in the no. 10 role but also further back in a box-to-box, no. 8 type. Ander Herrera comes into the team because he’s too good to languish on the bench. Mourinho may look to sell him to fund other moves, as he’s not the prototypical player for this manager, but if he’s on the team come September then he’ll get some chances in the first team. He’s too good on the ball not to.

Because of the belligerently attacking style of this side and the players that populate it, a lot will hinge on Schneiderlin’s ability to halt counter attacks and on the fullbacks to diligently defend. With Rooney, who is a natural striker, and Herrera, who houses a natural allergy to general defending, in the midfield, they could be exposed.

Yeah, this formation is much too adventurous for Mourinho, anyway.

Next: Option three: 4-3-3