Manchester United’s defensive injury crisis worsened in Wolfsburg last night as full-back Matteo Darmian limped out of the fray. Joining him on the walking wounded list was center back Chris Smalling, who’s currently playing as good or better than anyone alive at the position right now.
So you have the right back and a center back position banged up, what about the left side? Oh, that’s right starter Luke Shaw is gone for the season.
Shaw’s back-up Marcos Rojo, is also out, meaning Guillermo Varela got major playing time last night. You know that’s a major major issue when Varela, a guy who’s hardly played, and that few fans have even heard of, is seeing the pitch. Yikes! We have a full blown defender injury “crisis” on our hands now.
United Manager Louis van Gaal was asked about Darmian and Smalling after the game and his response was discouraging:
“Matteo Darmian has a hamstring injury and Smalling probably a groin injury,” he confirmed. “Smalling could not jump at the moment of the set plays and that goal [Wolfsburg’s third] was also because of that. He had to give it [defensive responsibility] to another player and that’s always a question of communication and quality. With Naldo [who scored twice], we knew in advance that he was a very important header for them.”
Will they be ready in time for the next fixture? “I don’t know, it’s happened this evening, but normally they are out for Saturday,” Van Gaal responded.
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