Erik ten Hag wants Man United’s return to the premier tournament in Europe to start off well.
In less than three weeks, Manchester United will travel to Bayern Munich to begin their 2023–2024 Champions League campaign.
On Thursday night, United learned of their group for this season’s European competition after earning a spot in the draw with their third-place result in the Premier League the previous year. The group that Erik ten Hag’s team was drawn into, Group A, also included the German champions.
Following them were FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray, who won the Danish and Turkish league championships last year, respectively. On Tuesday, October 3, United will play its first group-stage home game against the latter.
For gameweek three, United will once more play at home, hosting FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, October 24, before departing for Copenhagen on Wednesday, November 8. On Wednesday, November 29, they depart for Galatasaray before their final group match against Bayern at home on Tuesday, December 12.
The rivals United will face in the group stage have a variety of intriguing backstories, not the least of which being the encounter with Bayern and Harry Kane. Prior to finally signing Rasmus Hojlund this summer, Ten Hag had the striker as his top priority.
Since then, Kane, who cost £100 million to join the perennial Bundesliga champions, has scored three goals in each of his first two league contests. The two teams last faced off in the 2013–2014 Champions League, with David Moyes’ team losing 3–1 in Bavaria and being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Hojlund will see the team he started his career with when FC Copenhagen is welcomed to Old Trafford and then travels to the Danish capital. The 20-year-old made his name in his native nation before signing with FC Sturm Graz, going on to Atalanta, and finally joining United this summer in a £72 million move.
United’s Champions League group stage dates in full:
Bayern Munich (A) – Wednesday, September 20
Galatasaray (H) – Tuesday, October 3
FC Copenhagen (H) – Tuesday, October 24
FC Copenhagen (A) – Wednesday, November 8
Galatasaray (A) – Wednesday, November 29
Bayern Munich (H) – Tuesday, December 12
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