FA Cup
van Gaal’s Team News Update: Man Utd Without 3 Players For Everton Clash
Louis van Gaal has offered a team news and injury update ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final against Everton. See the latest news here
Manchester United will look to book their place in the FA Cup final when they take on Everton in the semi-finals on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of the game, Louis van Gaal has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference today and he’s given ManUtd.com a team news and injury update.
The Dutchman was pleased to confirm that United have no fresh injury worries to contend with following Wednesday night’s Premier League victory over Crystal Palace.
There was a doubt over Chris Smalling after the centre-back finished the game hobbling last night after coming off worse in a late challenge but thankfully the England international confirmed earlier that the problem was nothing serious and he’s fit to face Everton.
However, Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to play again this season after suffering knee ligament damage while away with the German squad last month while Adnan Januzaj is still working his way back to full fitness.
Luke Shaw is the only other injury absentee and while the full-back has stepped-up his recovery from a double leg break that he suffered back in September, the youngster is still not ready to make his long-awaited first team comeback.
With just three players unavailable for this weekend’s game and 24 fit players to choose from, van Gaal has admitted he has some selection decisions to make with six players set to be disappointed.
van Gaal told the clubs website ahead of the Everton game:
“The squad is nearly fit. Only Shaw and Schweinsteiger are unable to play and maybe Januzaj because he didn’t play yet in the second team. But we have a full squad of fit players.”
“Every player wants to play in a semi-final. I have to select 18 players and I have now 24 players fit so I have to disappoint six players and that is not fine for a manager.”
United warmed up for the semi-final in the perfect manner having eased to a 2-0 victory over Palace at Old Trafford last night but their attention will now turn to securing a place in the FA Cup final and trying to win the competition for the first time since 2004.
