Anyone hoping for an exciting goal-fest at Old Trafford on Thursday should probably disregard this next stat:

There have only been nine goals scored in seven European meetings between Manchester United and Real Sociedad, with four of those coming in the same game by the Red Devils in a 4-0 win in February 2021.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has said Thursday's Europa League match is "massive" for the club's season.

With the club currently in 14th position the only way they can qualify for European football next season is to win the Europa League.

"We know the pressure because we know the situation we are in.

"To get into Europe next season we have to win a lot of games in the league or go through the Europa League."

Only once since English clubs were allowed back into Europe in 1990 following their ban have United failed to qualify, in 2014 under David Moyes.

Unless their present situation improves they are heading for their worst league finish since the 1973-74 relegation campaign.

The phrase "fully operational" always makes me think of the Death Star (Star Wars reference).

Just to be clear, I am not drawing any comparison between the Death Star and Manchester United's training ground...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United unveiled ambitious plans for a new 100,000 capacity stadium close to their current Old Trafford site yesterday.

But that is not the only major construction work taking place at the club.

Their Carrington training ground has been a virtual building site all season, with the first team moved into a completely different part of the complex.

Speaking to club officials, it was revealed yesterday the new-look training facility should be fully operational by the end of July, in other words, when United return from their three-match pre-season tour of the United States.

There is plenty of information circulating about Manchester United's new stadium plans, but here are the key facts you need to know:

• The ground would hold 100,000 fans - making it the biggest stadium in the UK
• The anticipated cost of the project is around £2bn
• Leading architect Lord Norman Foster says the stadium can be built in five years - half the time it would usually take to build one from scratch
• The project would create 92,000 new jobs, more than 17,000 new homes as well as drive 1.8 million visitors annually.

Want more United news? Head over to our club page.

We see what you did there...

Image source, Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

If there was not already a heap of pressure on Manchester United to progress in the Europa League, the importance is that much more significant when you take in the fact of if they do not win a Europa League trophy this season would be their worst since the early 1990s.

United have never finished below seventh in the Premier League table but they are currently 14th.

They are also on track to record their lowest points total in the Premier League era. Their current lowest total was 58 in the 2021/22 season. The club at present has 34 points with 10 games to go.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United have to make a player available at this lunchtime's press conference.

Given Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments earlier this week, the thought of Andre Onana or Rasmus Hojlund talking about whether they were overpaid or not good enough was an enticing one.

Instead, United have selected new signing Patrick Dorgu to fulfil Uefa's media obligations.

Dorgu has done quite well since his £25m arrival from Lecce during the winter window and provided balance on the left side of the United team.

The Denmark international is currently serving a three-match domestic suspension after getting sent off in the recent Premier League win over Ipswich, but is available for tomorrow's game.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United play Real Sociedad on Thursday with their Europa League round of 16 tie evenly poised after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Spain.

Joshua Zirkzee's opener for Ruben Amorim's side was cancelled out by a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty.

Keeping their Europa League hopes alive is imperative for United to take something away from this season, putting a lot of pressure on Thursday's fixture.

The European competition is United's last chance at silverware. They have already been knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup and currently sit 14th in the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United

As Simon Stone mentioned, Sir Jim Ratcliffe gave an interview to BBC Sport earlier this week where he touched upon wide-ranging topics. Here are some of the highlights:

• He commented on Marcus Rashford's loan to Aston Villa
• Said the club had "come off the rails"
• And branded criticism aimed at him for his comments on the women's team as "unfair"
• Full transcript of the interview
• Here the BBC answered key questions about the new stadium

There is only 30 minutes until the Manchester United news conference, but we have just enough time to gather our thoughts.

Considering yesterday's stadium announcement, and those comments made prior to that by Sir Jim Ratcliffe about the Manchester United squad, we just wondered what questions you would pose to Ruben Amorim and whichever player faces the media today?

Send in your questions using the contact details above and we will publish as many as we can.

Just keep them clean please and remember to include your name.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

In case anyone had forgotten, in his interview with BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan on Monday, Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe name checked Andre Onana, Casemiro, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund in a discussion around the merits of the current squad.

Ratcliffe was not referring to those five players directly but within his answer, he said some United players were overpaid and some were not good enough.

Head coach Ruben Amorim has to speak to the media this afternoon at 13:15 GMT to look ahead to tomorrow's Europa League tie with Real Sociedad. An, as yet unnamed player, will be alongside him.

Ratcliffe's comments are bound to come up.

It will be fascinating to see how they are dealt with.

Manchester United

In an interview with the BBC, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe criticised some of the "inherited" players in United's squad.

Some of those stars that he named checked were Jadon Sancho, Antony, Casemiro, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund,

He said when asked if those inherited players were overpaid: "Some are not good enough, some are probably overpaid. But for us to mould a squad, that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.

"We've got this period where we will move from the past to the future and we are in the middle of that period. There are some great players in the squad as we know. The captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno [Fernandes]. Without him it would be really tough."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount was involved in the open section of training ahead of tomorrow's Europa League last-16 tie with Real Sociedad at Old Trafford.

The £55m signing from Chelsea has endured a second injury-plagued campaign.

He has started just four league games and has not featured since injuring his hamstring against Manchester City on 15 December.

Manuel Ugarte was also involved after missing two games with a 'knock'.

However, defensive pair Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro were both missing.

Realistically, United need to win the Europa League to qualify for European football next season. They drew the away leg in San Sebastian last week and are likely to play French club Lyon if they get through.

Image source, PA Media

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

What you can't take into account is, I'm sat here watching Donnarumma and thinking 'wow look at the size of him'. How imposing is he in that goal? Where am I going to put this? If he dives the right way he stands a great chance of getting it. The guy's a monster.

But he looks nonchalant, not bothered.

The idea behind that is to stand as slim as you can to start with [as the penalty taker walks from the halfway line]. Then when they put the ball on the spot, now you're putting doubt in their mind, you spread yourself, you make yourself big and awkward, making the goal look smaller.

You don't do that when they're walking forward. You do it when the ball is on the spot to put doubt in their mind in the last seconds.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

• Gianluigi Donnarumma has now won six of the seven penalty shootouts he has taken part in for club and country.
• Since making his debut aged 16 for boyhood club AC Milan, Donnarumma has faced 60 penalties across his club and international career. He has saved 14 of those, giving him a save percentage of 23.3%.
• Donnarumma has saved 10 of the 43 spot-kicks he has faced during shootouts - a save percentage of 23.3%.
• His full record for penalties faced during matches and in shootouts is 24 saves from 103 penalties.

Sean Kearns
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

"The first game belonged to Alisson, the second game belonged to Donnarumma," said PSG boss Luis Enrique.

It is the life of a goalkeeper.

One day you are the villain. The next, you are the hero.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was blamed by some for Paris St-Germain's defeat by Liverpool last week, allowing Harvey Elliot's 88th-minute effort - the Reds' only shot on target - to slip in.

At the other end, the Italian's opposite number Alisson produced the "performance of his career" as he single-handedly kept the French side at bay in Paris.

On Tuesday night, the tables turned.

Italy's Donnarumma was the hero, saving two of Liverpool's three penalties in a shootout to send his side through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

The very first thing Mohamed Salah did on Tuesday night was slip the ball between PSG left-back Nuno Mendes' legs and sprint off down the touchline.

However....

A massive factor in Salah drawing a blank across the two legs was Mendes' performance.

The 22-year-old Portugal international nicked the ball off Salah on multiple occasions and caused problems going forward.

Signed from Sporting Lisbon in 2022, Mendes spent the 2021-22 season on loan before signing in a deal worth a reported £34m.

The left-back was one of four PSG players named in the Ligue 1 team of the year in his first season and has been a constant under Luis Enrique.

He has 33 caps and has already played in three major tournaments for Portugal.

A rising star who is only getting better.

Image source, Getty Images