Man Utd Match Centre
Man Utd Team News: Mourinho Confirms Duo Will Start But Two Other Key Men Ruled Out
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that two players will miss Man Utd’s clash with CSKA but he’s named two others who will start the match
Manchester United will look to guarantee their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League when they take on CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Ahead of the game, Jose Mourinho has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided a team news and injury update.
The United boss confirmed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still unavailable for selection as the striker is still working his way back to full fitness following seven months out with a knee injury.
Ibrahimovic made his return last month with four substitute appearances but was left out of the squad for the win over Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday evening.
Mourinho says the 36-year-old striker isn’t injured but is still needing to build-up the muscle around his knee and it therefore feeling a little fatigued at the moment which is preventing him from playing.
The United boss also confirmed another blow with the news that Nemanja Matic will miss the CSKA game tomorrow after being ruled out through injury.
Matic passed a late fitness test to start against Arsenal on Saturday having picked up a muscle injury last week but it seems the midfielder may have aggravated the problem at the Emirates.
Mourinho also told ManUtd.com that he’ll make some changes to his starting eleven with Sergio Romero set for a start in goal with David De Gea given a well-earned rest following his superb performance at the Emirates.
Paul Pogba will also start against CSKA tomorrow as he prepares to begin a three-match domestic suspension following his sending off against Arsenal at the weekend.
Mourinho has confirmed that Luke Shaw will get a rare call-up to the squad on Tuesday night but he refused to divulge whether the left-back will start or be named on the bench.
The United boss told the clubs website:
“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,” the boss told us. “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.”
“It’s the match that matters. He [Pogba] 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.”
“He’s [Shaw] 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.”
United head in to the final game sitting three points clear at the top of Group A following their shock defeat to Basel but as they boast a +9 better goal difference over third-placed CSKA, the Reds simply need to avoid a heavy defeat to guarantee their place in the next phase.
