Atalanta vs Manchester United - Combined XI | UEFA Champions League 2021-21

Defensive midfielder: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

Pogba will be crucial in breaking lines to get the ball forward

He's mostly come off the bench this season but given the circumstances right now, Ole would be wise to start Pogba on Wednesday.

Whenever the Frenchman is on the pitch, he runs their midfield with energy, intelligence and great passion.

He's a fantastic passer of the ball too and can turn the screw in a game with one excellent cross. His ability to score goals, really beautiful goals, is well-documented too.

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Right winger: Josip Ilicic (Atalanta)

Illicic has six goals in 15 Champions League games

As far as underrated Serie A players go, Ilicic is near the top. He's been pounding the net with remarkable consistency since joining from Fiorentina in 2017 and also regularly chips in with an assist or two. He has scored 59 goals in 162 appearances for Atalanta since joining.

Ilicic is a versatile player with the ability to play anywhere across the attacking frontline. The Slovenian sharpshooter combines excellent ball control with eye-catching dribbling skills to get past his markers.

He's yet to open his account in the Champions League this season, but what better occasion to do that than this, right?

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Central Attacking Midfielder: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Fernandes was on fire in the first-leg

Fernandes has left us exhausted of superlatives. Even in a stuttering squad like this, he's shone through with his talismanic displays, carrying the creative burden on his shoulders whilst scoring regularly.

Against Atalanta last month, the Portuguese talisman created nine chances and made one assist. This was his fourth assist in the competition this season, the highest at this stage.

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Left winger: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Rashford is back from injury with a bang

A shoulder injury forced Rashford to miss the first few weeks of the season. But since his return to the fold, he's looked unstoppable, bagging three goals in four games, including one against Atalanta.

It's a testament not only to his quality but also how important the winger is for the Red Devils. He's ferociously quick, incredibly clever and lethal at finishing, maturing into a world-class prospect under Ole.