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Tuesday 24 December 2024 13:30
Manchester United will hope Matthijs de Ligt is over the sickness that forced him to miss the defeats to Tottenham and Bournemouth.
The commanding centre-back could be available to help bolster the backline, as we have shipped seven goals in those two games, with the Reds looking to return to winning ways in Boxing Day’s teatime meeting at Wolves [17:30 GMT kick-off].
Head coach Ruben Amorim has explained his selection policy in his pre-match press conference and mentioned De Ligt, plus the need to avoid more injuries.
“In this moment, it’s not rotation to see the players and prepare the future,” he said. “It’s simply to not have injuries. Matthijs is sick. Harry Maguire did 90 minutes against [Manchester] City and cannot play three days before because, in three months, he only did 90 minutes one time against City.
“So we have to rotate him during the week and today [Sunday] he is playing. Kobbie Mainoo played, he returned from injury, so I have to think if he’s ready to cope with both games so, sometimes, I have to play two games at the same moment. Rasmus [Hojlund] played two games, the third game today [Sunday] and I think we needed fresh legs.
“So we are trying to address everything. I just want to win games because I know that there’s a long-term project and we are focused on that. But I also know that in big clubs you don’t have a lot of time and you have to win games. So I have a clear idea of the responsibility I have here but I’m trying to manage this team to not have injuries.
“If we have injuries, it’s a massive problem in trying to win games and manage all the players, so I’m not rotating to see the future. I just want to win games and not have injuries. If we have injuries, it’s a big problem.”
Marcus Rashford’s recent absence has been the subject of much media attention, with Amorim telling Sky Sports on the matter: “It is a hard situation.
“I understand that these players have a lot of people around them, making choices that are not the first idea from the player. I am always here to help Marcus as another player. I have to do what I have to do.
“They chose to do the interview, as it is not just Marcus. I understand that. As a coach, I focus on performance and the way you train. The rest, it is better for me and the club to deal with that when the time comes.
“At the moment, I focus on improving Marcus and we need a talented guy like Marcus. I forget the interview now and see what I see on the pitch.”
Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount have been sidelined due to injury.
WOLVES’ TEAM NEWS
New boss Vitor Pereira oversaw a much-needed 3-0 victory at Leicester City in his opening game in charge, on Sunday.
A first home fixture for the Portuguese should feature highly rated Rayan Ait-Nouri, who is back from the suspension served for his red card against Ipswich Town. Star man Matheus Cunha was also involved in a fracas after that defeat that led to an FA charge but he was still able to play, and score, against the Foxes. Whether he will be banned for Boxing Day is still not clear.
“We will improve,” said Pereira. “Improve the possession and defensive organisation. I just need a few weeks, not a lot of time, to put this team playing the way I want because I know what I want.”
Mario Lemina missed the Leicester win but is likely to be available, although Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera, Pablo Sarabia and Boubacar Traore are all out.
“I think it is a small injury,” Pereira explained about Lemina. “But I didn’t want to take the risk because we don’t have a lot of midfielders. I hope that he is able to help us.”
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Tuesday 24 December 2024 13:30
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