Manchester United are not remarkably healthy, even for this time of year, when almost every club has experienced the toll that the long season takes. For United it’s been especially hard, because they still alive in four different competitions for so long and they’re still alive in two. It can put a lot of wear and tear on a given roster.
Today, an already injury depleted mash unit suffered even more setbacks. Jose Mourinho said he fears the worst for Luke Shaw.
Eric Bailly got hurt in the 1-1 home draw with Swansea City as well.
The BBC reports Mourinho stating: “I think Luke Shaw’s must be a big injury, because to leave the pitch after 10 minutes I am expecting a very big injury.”
Shaw apparently suffered an ankle knock, and had to be replaced by Antonio Valencia early on. As for Bailly, he left limping 57 minutes in and was later seen hobbling around with his leg taped.
The good news is that Bailly was not seen on crutches. Still, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones not likely to return in time for the UEFA Europa League semi-final on Thursday, the Red Devils now have no true center backs fit for the clash.
“I don’t think they [Smalling or Jones] will be fit, that’s my personal opinion,” Mourinho told a news conference after the game.
“I don’t think they will but I know that the players I choose they give everything so doesn’t matter if I go with Darmian as central defender, if I go with Carrick or Axel, I trust the boys.”
At this point, Mourinho’s joke on Friday that he might have to actually suit up and play now seems much less funny. United are also dealing with:
Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic being out for the season, Juan Mata just getting back into it, after not playing in the past nine and games, and Marouane Fellaini being suspended for two more games.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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