Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says his side "have a plan" to secure the margin of victory they need against Real Sociedad to top their Europa League group.
While a spot in the knockout stages of the competition has already been secured, United need to win by a two-goal margin to finish as Group E winners – which comes with the added benefit of avoiding a two-legged play-off against one of the eight teams to drop out of the Champions League.
Instead, group winners will resume their involvement in the Europa League from the round of 16, which would prove a valuable boost not only due to ensuring United would be a step closer to the final, but also in light of the hectic fixture schedule caused by the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Securing such a win is the clear target for Ten Hag and his side, who lost the reverse fixture in the opening match of the group stage.
"Obviously, it's important. We can win tomorrow night. We know what we have to do - win by a two-goal margin," he said in Wednesday's press conference.
"But if you want to win the trophy you have to win all the games, so we have to win every one.
"It's six weeks ago or so and it's a different team, not all the players then are fit. We're growing, developing, making good progress.
"We know it's difficult to win games here but we like the challenge. We know we have to win by two goals, we have a plan for that and we will do everything to get it done.
"I don't think you speak about how far you come. You can't win anything at this moment, it's game by game and we have to win every game."
While United have lost their last two matches against Spanish opponents, against Atletico Madrid in last season's Champions League and La Real earlier this campaign, they have won six of their last seven away games in the Europa League, scoring 19 goals at an average of 2.7 per game.
La Real, on the other hand, have won their last two Europa League home matches, as many wins as in their previous 10 such games in the competition (D4 L4). They last won three consecutive home fixtures in a single season in major European competitions in the 1998-99 UEFA Cup.
United will be depleted for Thursday's game, with Antony, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial all unavailable, though the trio could well be back soon.
"Jadon was ill, Martial is still in rehab. He did train this morning so we're going in the right direction," Ten Hag added.
St. Louis City v Minnesota United: Hackworth holding on to feint playoff hopes
St. Louis City interim head coach John Hackworth is confident his side can make a late push for the playoffs after going unbeaten since their return from the Leagues Cup.
St. Louis are building momentum at the right time, but remain six points adrift of this weekend’s opponents, Minnesota United, who sit on the right side of the playoff line.
Hackworth’s side were forced to share the spoils in their last MLS encounter against New England Revolution, but the 54-year-old preached positivity for the business end of the campaign.
“I personally believe that we're not out of time yet, you know, we still have control,” Hackworth said.
“We have to fix this little moment where we take our foot off the gas, where we don't play with the same initiative that we do to start the game. That's something we can fix. We have fixed it.
“We have gotten better. I'm going to say I'm blue in the face, but I believe in this group of guys. I still think we have a good chance.”
Minnesota, meanwhile, overcame the San Jose Earthquakes in their last match, keeping the gap between the teams below them to just a point with the luxury of a game in hand over most.
The Loons currently sit ninth in the Western Conference table and know a win is a must to keep their ambitions of remaining in that position alive.
Head coach Eric Ramsay acknowledged the enormity of the task awaiting his players but challenged his squad to deal with the raucous atmosphere inside CITYPARK.
“They have had a slight change in fortune over the last couple of games. They are fighting for their lives at the bottom in the same way that we are,” Ramsay said.
“They are a team I am sure that are looking at this game as being crucial for the remainder of their season and their fortunes.
“We have got to make sure we handle that situation well and that we understand the magnitude of the game for us and for them, because that will certainly play its part.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Louis City – Marcel Hartel
Hartel has been involved in a goal in each of his first three MLS matches (one goal and three assists).
Since the start of 2023, four players have begun their MLS careers with goal contributions in their first three regular season matches, with three of them doing so for St. Louis (Hartel, Joao Klauss and Eduard Lowen).
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Despite only playing the final half an hour in Finland’s Nations League defeat to England, Lod returns to the MLS with a record in his sights.
Lod has been involved in 54 regular season goals for Minnesota (28 goals and 26 assists), one away from equalling the club record of 55 held by Emanuel Reynoso (22 goals and 33 assists).
MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CITY WIN
St. Louis City have not lost any of their last six matches against MLS teams in all competitions (W3 D3). This is their longest unbeaten run in the division during the club’s history.
But Minnesota have won two of their last three regular season matches (L1) after winning just two of their previous 14 (D4 L8). Minnesota’s triumph against San Jose last time out also ended a seven-match winless run away from home (D2 L5).
And it has often been the away side who have emerged victorious in this fixture. Both their MLS meetings last term ended with an away win, with Minnesota out to upset Opta’s data-led simulations at CITYPARK this time around.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
St. Louis City – 46.4%
Draw – 26.5%
Minnesota United – 27%
Ronaldo 'entitled to his opinion', says Ten Hag after Man United criticism
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has brushed aside Cristiano Ronaldo's latest comments as he continues to block out the criticism surrounding his tenure.
Ronaldo, who recently surpassed 900 career goals during the international break, returned to Old Trafford in 2021 for a second stint at the club he made his name at.
The Portugal international netted 27 goals in 55 appearances in all competitions across one and a half seasons but fell out of favour under Ten Hag before joining Al Nassr in December 2022.
During the 2021-22 season, no one registered more goal contributions in the Premier League for United than Ronaldo (21, 18 goals and three assists), while he also produced an expected goals tally (xG) of 17.75, also the highest in the Red Devils squad.
And speaking to former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand on a podcast, Ronaldo said Ten Hag had been wrong to say in a pre-season interview that the club were "a long way away" from winning the Premier League.
When questioned about the veteran forward's comments, Ten Hag said: "No, he said this, if you read the article very well.
"He is entitled to his opinion. It's OK. He is far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester."
United headed into the international break off the back of successive defeats in the Premier League, the latest coming in a 3-0 humbling against arch rivals Liverpool.
The Red Devils have now lost as many as two of their first three league games in a season for the second time under the Dutchman's tenure (also 2022-23).
They last lost three of their first four back in 1986-87, when Ron Atkinson was sacked and replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.
While United are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League away games against the Saints, the encounter at St. Mary's seems a seismic one for Ten Hag's future at the club.
The two-week break since the Liverpool defeat has seen Ten Hag's future widely discussed, but the Dutchman insisted that the outside noise did not bother him.
"It doesn't impact me. I know where we are in the process and what we have to do and where we are going," Ten Hag said.
"I have said before we are still in a transition period.
"We have to integrate a lot of young players in the team and still have to deal with injuries and bring players back into the team.
"Before anyone thinks about excuses, no, we have to win every game. I know that. The team knows that. It doesn't matter who is available."
Ronaldo: 'You cannot rebuild Man United without knowledge'
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Manchester United "cannot rebuild without knowledge" as he urged Erik ten Hag to take advice from assistant coach - and former Red Devils striker - Ruud van Nistelrooy.
United opened the Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Fulham, but then suffered back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool.
It is the second time under Ten Hag the Red Devils have lost as many as two of their first three league games in a season (also 2022-23); as many times as in their previous 29 campaigns combined.
United have also scored three goals fewer than their xG suggests they should have so far this term (two goals, 5.2 xG), the biggest such difference for any team in the Premier League.
Ten Hag was recently joined in the dugout by compatriot Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 in 219 appearances at Old Trafford between 2001 and 2006.
And Ronaldo - the scorer of 145 in 346 games across his two spells - thinks the Red Devils will benefit from the wisdom of people with prior experience and knowledge of the club.
"[As the] Man United manager; you cannot say that you're not going to fight to win the Premier League or Champions League," he told former team-mate Rio Ferdinand on FiveUK.
"You've to say: 'maybe we've not got the potential, but we're going to try'. You have to try!
"If Ten Hag listens to Ruud van Nistelrooy, maybe he can help. He knows the club and the club should listen to the guys who were there [like] Rio, Roy Keane, [Paul] Scholes, Gary Neville, Alex Ferguson. You cannot rebuild a club without knowledge."
United return to action this weekend away at pointless Southampton, against whom they are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League visits since a 1-0 defeat in August 2003.
The Red Devils have also lost just one of their last 30 Premier League matches against promoted sides, winning 15 of their last 17 such games.
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