The German-born attacker has given Manchester United an early warning ahead of their European meeting, making it clear that Sabah are not travelling to England simply to make up the numbers.
Mickels is coming into the fixture full of belief after his three-goal performance, and the prospect of playing against United at the Theatre of Dreams is clearly something he and his teammates have been eagerly anticipating. 🏟️🔥
“I can’t wait. I think everybody is waiting for this game and we’re pleased to be in the Champions League,” Mickels said.
That excitement tells you everything about the occasion for Sabah.
For a club making its mark on the Champions League stage, walking into Old Trafford to face one of the biggest names in European football represents an enormous opportunity. But Mickels does not appear interested in simply enjoying the experience.
He wants Sabah to compete.
The winger also acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge but insisted that his team will attempt to play their own football and fight for points.
That mentality could make this a much more uncomfortable evening for United than some supporters might expect. 👀
Sabah have already shown during their European campaign that they are capable of causing problems. Their route into the Champions League was far from straightforward, and they had to overcome several opponents before securing their place among Europe’s elite.
Now they have arrived at Old Trafford with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
And Mickels is one player United will need to keep a very close eye on. ⚠️🔥
A winger arriving after scoring three goals is exactly the kind of opponent you do not want to give confidence to early in a match.
If Mickels gets space to attack, receives the ball in dangerous positions or finds himself isolated against a defender, Sabah could have a genuine outlet capable of causing problems.
For Michael Carrick, this means United cannot afford to become complacent.
The quality difference between the two squads may be significant, but European football has a habit of producing unexpected moments. One early goal, one defensive mistake or one brilliant individual performance can completely change the mood inside a stadium.
Mickels clearly believes Sabah can make their presence felt.
United’s job is to make sure he does not turn his confidence into another memorable performance. 😭🔴
The message from the Sabah camp is simple: they respect Manchester United, but they are not afraid of them.
And with a hat-trick fresh in his memory, Mickels will arrive at Old Trafford believing he can make another headline.
A winger coming into Old Trafford after scoring a hat-trick?
Manchester United better be READY. 👀🔥🔴
