Much work will go on at the Trafford Training Centre this week before the Man United squad boards its flight for Turkey.
The upcoming UEFA Champions League Matchday 5 fixture holds special importance for the Red Devils.
It is truly make-or-break time for Erik ten Hag’s team.
The bottom line is that it’s win or bust for the most successful Premier League team of all time when Man United visits RAMS Park in Istanbul to play Galatasaray in Group A on Wednesday.
Things haven’t fallen into place in the Champions League since Man United conceded a Mathys Tel goal in stoppage time at the Allianz Arena in September.
The goal gave Bayern Munich a crucial two-goal cushion and all three points in the opening Group A fixture. It could have all been so different.
A Casemiro red card then prompted a late winner for a Mauro Icardi-inspired Galatasaray in Matchday 2 at Old Trafford.
In Matchday 3, the much-maligned Harry Maguire restored some sense of normalcy with the game’s only goal at home against FC Copenhagen.
Three points from three matches was surely not what Erik ten Hag had in mind before the campaign started.
It couldn’t get worse – could it?
It did.
Matchday 4 saw Man United outshot, outpassed, out-possessed and outscored by the Danes when visiting the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen for the return fixture.
Even after Marcus Rashford was red-carded late in the first half, the Red Devils held their nerve and led until the last ten minutes.
Then FC Copenhagen scored not one but two late goals to snatch an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat.
Four matches. Three points.
This spate of poor results has surprised United supporters and UK bookmakers alike.
Bottom of Group A with one win in four, Man United now has a single realistic chance left to salvage something from their campaign.
The Red Devils must win against Galatasaray in Turkey on Wednesday.
Even then, victory may not assure progression to the knockout phase, with a challenging Matchday 6 home game with unbeaten Bayern Munich to come.
According to a guide listing the best betting sites in the UK, where all sites mentioned are reviewed and verified, the Istanbul encounter will be tight.
Galatasaray (8/5) and Man United (17/10) both realise its importance, so fans and bettors can expect plenty of goal-mouth action.
Bookies expect Bayern (2/9) to beat FC Copenhagen (12/1) easily in the other match, so victory in Turkey would move the Red Devils up to second position.
An Istanbul win would give Man United a two-point advantage over the Turks and the Danes with one group match to play.
Then, barring a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray in the final fixture, the Red Devils would need to win against Bayern at Old Trafford on Matchday 6 to progress from Group A.
If Wednesday’s game with Galatasaray ends as a draw (11/4), Man United will remain bottom of Group A.
In this case, even if the proud English team defeats Bayern Munich on Matchday 6, the Turkish side will qualify with a win in Copenhagen.
Man United cannot shift blame for its predicament anywhere else.
A combination of receiving red cards and conceding late goals has been their European undoing in 2023/24.
As it stands, Man United’s progress in this season’s UEFA Champions League hinges on the Turkey encounter.
Erik ten Hag will likely focus on discipline at the Trafford Training Centre before takeoff time – with good reason.
It’s make-or-break time for Man United in Turkey on Wednesday.
