What is Manchester United’s strongest XI?

Option four: 4-2-3-1

The same pretend-Depay-is-Rashford rule applies here, of course.

This is for if Ibrahimovic is hurt, fixture congestion piles up or for some reason he can’t keep up with the Premier League at 35 years old. The Swede hits the bench.

In Mourinho’s preferred 4-2-3-1, there’s the same central defender pairing that you’ve become accustomed to seeing for the entirety of this article, there’s just no displacing them. Sorry, Phil Jones.

Shaw will be the preferred left back so long that his recovery is swift but Darmian vs. Valencia is a debate.

In the midfield, Schneiderlin anchors for Schweinsteiger again with Mkhitaryan moving central to play the no. 10. A traditional playmaker in the position rather than a striker, Rooney.

Speaking of a striker Rooney, he gets to move all the way up top in Ibrahimovic’s absence. There’s pace on the wings again in United’s young attackers. While we’re handing out apologies to Jones, one should be sent out to Depay, as well.

The lack of Juan Mata throughout these teamsters is because he’s got to be considered likely to leave with Mourinho’s appointment. He was squeezed out of Chelsea when the manager made his triumphant return from Real Madrid and was finally firmly settled in at his new club in Manchester. Then Mourinho followed him here.

Mata is a quality playmaking midfielder, but United don’t need any more players in the front part of the team. They’re sufficiently covered with Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Rashford, Martial and Mkhitaryan. They need more Schneiderlin types than Mata’s.

Next: Verdict