Charlie Nicholas states prediction for Man United v FC Midtjylland

Charlie Nicholas is backing Manchester United to respond in the Europa League on Thursday night and beat FC Midtjylland on aggregate at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils will have to overturn a 2-1 deficit after the Danish champions were surprise winners in the first leg of the last-32 tie last week.

There’s got to be a lot of anger in that United side and I’m expecting them to respond sufficiently to qualify

Charlie Nicholas

Louis van Gaal’s side brought two-game losing run to an end on Monday night courtesy of an emphatic 3-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fifth round.

Former Arsenal midfielder Nicholas is confident that United will progress past Midtjylland and into the Europa League last 16.

Nicholas told Sky Sports: “What we do know is they need wins and this is another must-win for LVG. Then there’s Arsenal on Sunday where they can keep their top-four hopes alive.

“They’ve obviously got a lot of injuries and we’re at a stage where they’ve just got to win this to keep their reputation in tact after the humiliation of last week.

“There’s got to be a lot of anger in that United side and I’m expecting them to respond sufficiently to qualify.”

United are unbeaten in nine European home games (W7 D2) since a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the 2012/13 Champions League round of 16. Their last Europa League home game ended in a 3-2 defeat to Athletic Club in March 2012.

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Midtjylland have lost their last two European away games without scoring, conceding six goals in the process.