Manchester United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, has provided insights regarding the absence of two pivotal players ahead of today’s first leg in the Europa League round of 16 against Real Sociedad.
Following their exit from the FA Cup in the fifth round last weekend due to a penalty shoot-out defeat against Fulham, the Red Devils are now focused on clinching the Europa League title to secure silverware and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
In the lead-up to the match, the team has encountered a new challenge with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte excluded from the 18-man squad traveling to Spain. Both players sustained minor injuries during the match against Fulham, prompting Amorim to emphasize the importance of caution.
He stated to the media: “They have minor issues. We must be prudent with their condition because we cannot afford to lose any more players for an extended period. We are managing their recovery at Carrington, and they will not participate in this match to avoid further risk.”
On Wednesday, several young players trained alongside the senior team, but Amorim has chosen to travel with only 18 players for the trip to the Basque Country. With Maguire unavailable, the manager may opt to reintegrate Noussair Mazraoui into the defensive lineup.
Patrick Dorgu, who is only suspended for domestic matches, might be positioned at left wing-back. In the number six role, Casemiro is a natural substitute for Manuel Ugarte. Additionally, Toby Collyer has returned from injury and could feature as a substitute.
Collyer has shown promise as a holding midfielder for the Red Devils, but given his recent absence, Amorim may be hesitant to include him in the starting lineup. Despite the numerous injuries, the manager aims to achieve a favorable outcome at the Reale Arena before the return leg next week.
United is set to face a significant Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford this weekend. Amorim will undoubtedly aim to assemble his strongest possible lineup. Maguire and Ugarte may return to the starting eleven to confront Mikel Arteta’s team, which has triumphed in the last three league encounters.