Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Manchester United have a couple of injuries heading into our final Champions League group stage game versus CSKA Moscow on Tuesday evening.
Provided we don’t lose by seven goals at home to the Russian outfit we’ll book our place into the second round for Monday’s draw.
However, preparation for Sunday’s derby against Manchester City has not been great due to a number of injuries to go on top of Paul Pogba’s domestic ban.
The boss has now confirmed Nemanja Matic has added to our issues in centre midfield. The Serbian joins Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick on the sidelines following Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Arsenal.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been expected to start this evening before being absent from the squad at the weekend. It turns out that the Swede is suffering from muscle fatigue. This may mean that Marcus Rashford plays up top versus CSKA instead.
Mourinho told MUTV:
“We have problems, we have injuries.
“Matic is injured and when I say he is injured, he is injured. I am not going to make him play so Matic is out. A couple of others guys are playing every match and they also need a rest. More importantly, the other guys deserve an opportunity to play.
“He [Ibrahimovic] is okay but he needs, now and again, specific work on the muscle that supports that knee that went through such a difficult surgery. When he works really hard on that, he gets fatigue and you cannot play with fatigue. It is something that we knew would happen now and again, that he needs to stop playing to become ready for harder work for prevention.”
Jose Mourinho was able to confirm that David de Gea will be rested following his heroics versus Arsenal over the weekend and that Sergio Romero will start this evening’s game. The Argentine goalkeeper will be making his second Champions League appearance of the season after facing FC Basel in the previous group game.
The Portuguese coach also confirmed that Paul Pogba will start after being sent off against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium, ruling him out of this weekend’s game. Mourinho said:
“He’s very happy to play tomorrow.
“It’s the match that matters. He plays tomorrow. Of course, he’s a bit tired because it was a huge match last weekend and just two days to recover for CSKA. But he’s very happy to play tomorrow and to try to keep his momentum because since he was back from injury, he’s been phenomenal.”
Mourinho was unable to confirm whether or not Luke Shaw will start or be on the pitch but did say that the England international will be given an opportunity in the near future:
“He’s working to have an opportunity and sooner or later, the opportunity will arrive. Because he deserves that opportunity. Selected for tomorrow, yes, for sure. To start or to be on the bench, I cannot answer.”
A much-rotated side will be selected to face CSKA Moscow this evening given our lead over the rest of the group and Sunday’s huge showdown versus Premier League leaders Manchester City being the most important match for us this week.
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