Southampton manager Ronald Koeman vows to go on attack against Manchester United
Ronald Koeman has urged Southampton to attack Manchester United on Sunday.
The manager and his Saints team host United in the Premier League having scored in only two of their five league fixtures played so far this season.
United, however, have also looked unsettled and vulnerable. They lost 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday and by the same scoreline at Swansea before the international break while Daley Blind, playing in the unfamiliar position of central defence, has been criticised by former United defender Rio Ferdinand as their "weak point".
Despite Chris Smalling's improvement, United's defence has, by their standards, been weak since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement and Ferdinand's decline. That Luke Shaw broke his leg against PSV has further weakened Louis van Gaal's options and Koeman believes that his team are capable of capitalising on the uncertainty among their opponents' back four.
"It's a good game to show that we can play attacking football and create chances," Koeman told Southampton's official club website. "That's important for Sunday to win the game.
"We have to be confident. If we are not you can't win. You have to show your qualities and your belief in a good result on Sunday.
"They are a big team, a big club. A lot of attention comes to everybody. That makes the game more interesting. I think that's the best word for Sunday.
"Man United is always a team who tries to play football, tries to play football from the back. Normally they have good ball possession.
"It of course depends on Wayne Rooney or if Marouane Fellaini will play as the striker, but the intention from the Man United team is always to control the game and to dominate.
"But we have our own style of play. It's different because they will play different if it is Rooney or Fellaini in front, but that doesn't mean any difference for our team."
Koeman, incidentally, is expected to recall Sadio Mane after the winger missed last week's goalless draw with West Brom.
Mane was a reported summer transfer target for United manager Van Gaal, and Koeman remains without the injured Fraser Forster, Ryan Bertrand, Florin Gardos and Jordy Clasie.
Luke Shaw will miss the trip to his old club and it will be the first time that another former Saints player Morgan Schneiderlin has returned to St Mary's since his B#25million move to Old Trafford.
Schneiderlin spent seven years at Southampton, playing a key role in their rise from League One to European qualification last term.
But, perhaps mindful of the fact that Shaw and Adam Lallana were booed by Saints fans last term, the Frenchman is unsure what kind of reception he will get on the south coast this weekend.
"We will see (what the reception is) but I know, and I think also the fans know, that I gave my best to Southampton," the midfielder told United Uncovered.
"I know there have been some up and downs at the club. In the first two years after I came we went down to League One, but I left the club in the Premier League with their best [points] record in the league ever.
"I fought for this team with my team-mates. So we'll see what the reception is but we parted on good terms."
Schneiderlin admits it will be an odd occasion, but one he believes he can handle.
"It will be strange in a way to go in the away dressing room. I've never seen the away dressing room," he said.
"I'll see all the people that I worked with for seven years all behind the scenes. I know all the staff there so it will be strange for me but I need to stay focused on my game and put all those things aside.
"I need to just work on my game and be as focused as I can, but it will be very nice to savour."
With Shaw absent, Louis van Gaal has to pick a new left-back. Ashley Young, Blind and Marcos Rojo are the main contenders.
The good news for the United manager is that captain Rooney has overcome a hamstring problem and is fit to start the match.
Source: PAR
