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What is Manchester United’s strongest XI?

By Tom Bogert

Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish midfielder Zlatan Ibrahimovic speaks with Chelsea's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (R) at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 17, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish midfielder Zlatan Ibrahimovic speaks with Chelsea's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (R) at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 17, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Option three: 4-3-3

We have a Marcus Rashford sighting! Well, not exactly. Because FIFA never got a Rashford card, we’ll have to make due with what we’ve got, we need to pretend that Depay is Rashford. I’m sure Depay does anyway.

This team is a hat tip to Rashford’s development and mature ability for such a young age. On Valentine’s Day, he’d still yet to play for the first team. Two weeks later is when he’d make United fans fall in love.

Rashford was so impressive that he even convinced Roy Hodgson to take him to the Euros. In standard initiation, he had to be around for one of their worst results ever against Iceland. He came on just before stoppage time and was a bright light, making many question why he wasn’t on the field earlier.

Looking forward to when he’s a veteran on a disappointing England side!

If you thought the last option was attacking, this sees its reckless need for pyrotechnics and raises it Mkhitaryan the midfield. Again, Schneiderlin becomes one of the most important players on the field for United here.

But with Rashford and Martial flanking Ibrahimovic, there’s pace aplenty to accentuate Rooney and Mkhitaryan passing range and ability as well as alleviating space around Ibrahimovic.

They’ve been spoiled by De Gea, though. He douses fires and papers over holes because of how good he is. The past two seasons he was the shining ultralight beam for United. When they qualified for the Champions League two seasons ago, De Gea had the biggest hand in that accomplishment.

Next: Option four: 4-2-3-1

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