There’s a substantial amount of team news breaking on the eve of Manchester United hosting FC Basel in the beginning of UEFA Champions League group play. Marouane Fellaini picked up a calf injury in the trip to Stoke City, and he is a doubt for the Tuesday night clash against the Swiss side.
Mourinho told reporters at his UCL preview press conference:
“Fellaini didn’t train yesterday so let’s see if he can today. He’s a very important player for me, much more important than you can imagine. I feel weaker without Fellaini in my squad, it doesn’t matter if it’s on the pitch or if it’s on the bench. So if his condition improves then he will be selected, because I need him but at the moment. But I cannot say yet.”
Also, despite the fact that Sergio Romero was the regular #1 in European competition last season, Mourinho has elected to go with the usual starting goalkeeper, David de Gea, in this one.
“I do what I think is the best for the team,” Mourinho said. “I don’t like that clear separation of ‘I play in this competition and you play in this competition’. And I think in this moment, David is playing very well and is very confident. I will go with David tomorrow again.”
Disciplinary Action: Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof have already been slated to start, as they will replace Eric Bailly and Phil Jones who will be serving their UEFA suspensions.
Man United Starting XI Prediction: go to this link.
Odds: (via Odds Checker) United- 1/5, Draw- 7/1, FC Basel 20/1
Kickoff: 17:30 BST
Prediction: Manchester United 2, FC Basel 1
As always, feel free to post your own match prediction in the comments section, and/or just opine on anything related to the game.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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