Match preview
The visitors know that only a victory at
the Volkswagen Arena will guarantee
them a place in the last 16 but a draw
would be good enough for the hosts
Manchester United manager Louis van
Gaal expects Wolfsburg to play
defensively in Tuesday's crunch
Champions League clash in Germany.
United are under extreme pressure going
into the game. They know a win would
see them progress to the last 16 as
Group B winners, but failure to do
so will see them eliminated if PSV better
their result at home against CSKA
Moscow.
Hosts Wolfsburg only require a draw to
progress past the group stage for the
first time in their history, while a
victory would guarantee they finish top
of the group.
Van Gaal believes the requirements of
both teams mean Wolfsburg are likely to
set up with a defensive strategy.
"Yes, we can win because we have also
won at home against them," he said after
a frustrating 0-0 Premier League draw
against West Ham.
"But that was a difficult match and I
know that also Wolfsburg shall not
attack too much because with a draw,
they continue and we are dependent on
PSV.
"Every match, we have chances and, in
our European matches, we have created
more chances than in the Premier League
matches. We know we have to score in
Wolfsburg.
"We have to play against a very good
team. I am convinced we can do it but
we have to be more composed in front of
goal."
The Bundesliga side have won both of
their two home games in the campaign
so far without conceding, while United
only have one point from their two away
fixtures.
Van Gaal's men, therefore, need as many
key players as possible fit to play, but
Paddy McNair and Morgan Schneiderlin
have emerged as fresh fitness doubts.
Wayne Rooney (ankle) is already
struggling, while Marcos Rojo, Ander
Herrera, Phil Jones and long-term
absentees Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia
are all missing.
"Paddy McNair has an ankle problem and
Schneiderlin is a little bit stiff in the hip,
so we have to wait and see as always on
that," said Van Gaal.
“I hope they can play on Tuesday but it
is a very short [turnaround] so it is a
very big question mark. Playing on
Saturday, resting on Sunday and
travelling on Monday is not ideal for a
Tuesday match but we have to cope."
Van Gaal is hopeful experienced Germany
midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger can
prove an inspiration in his first match
back in his homeland since swapping
Bayern Munich for United.
The Dutchman added: "The reason why
we have bought Schweinsteiger is that he
is a player who can lead or guide a team.
That is important – not only his football
qualities – but that he can lead and
guide a team on the pitch.
"I believe that every match that he plays
he can play better because until now we
have not seen the best Schweinsteiger
that I have seen at Bayern Munich, but
he can guide the team."
Wolfsburg suffered a dramatic 2-1 home
loss to Borussia Dortmund in the
Bundesliga on Saturday and are not on a
strong run of form domestically, winning
only one of their last four.
But Luiz Gustavo (back) has returned to
training after missing three matches,
Julian Draxler is fit again after an
adductor injury and Robin Knoche
(ankle) was fit enough for the bench
against Dortmund.
