EARLY TEAM NEWS V CSKA MOSCOW
Jose Mourinho has admitted he will make changes to his starting XI for Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League Group A decider against CSKA Moscow.
Speaking to MUTV at the Aon Training Complex on Monday, the boss confirmed Nemanja Matic is definitely injured and unavailable for Tuesday night’s European tie at Old Trafford.
“We have problems, we have injuries,” Jose said. “Matic is injured and when I say he is injured, he is injured. I am not going to make him play so Matic is out. A couple of others guys are playing every match and they also need a rest. More importantly, the other guys deserve an opportunity to play.”
On the subject of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who did not travel to Arsenal on Saturday, Mourinho revealed the striker needed time out to work on his rehabilitation from the knee injury he recently returned from.
“He is okay but he needs, now and again, specific work on the muscle that supports that knee that went through such a difficult surgery,” the boss told us. “When he works really hard on that, he gets fatigue and you cannot play with fatigue. It is something that we knew would happen now and again, that he needs to stop playing to become ready for harder work for prevention.”
The boss later told reporters that Sergio Romero will start against CSKA Moscow with Joel Pereira on the bench as our back-up goalkeeper, providing David De Gea with a well-earned rest following his heroics against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Paul Pogba will also start against the Russian visitors, which Jose confirmed when asked how he has reacted to the red card he received in north London. “He's very happy to play tomorrow.
"It's the match that matters. He plays tomorrow. Of course, he's a bit tired because it was a huge match last weekend and just two days to recover for CSKA. But he's very happy to play tomorrow and to try to keep his momentum because since he was back from injury, he's been phenomenal.”
Asked if Luke Shaw might feature, the boss said: "He's working to have an opportunity and sooner or later, the opportunity will arrive. Because he deserves that opportunity. Selected for tomorrow, yes, for sure. To start or to be on the bench, I cannot answer."
Confirmed team news will be released on Tuesday at around 18:30 GMT.
Want to see the Reds in action? Tickets are still available for next Wednesday's Premier League home game against Bournemouth - book your seat now.
Team news: Manchester United v CSKA Moscow - Official Manchester United Website
Jose Mourinho has admitted he will make changes to his starting XI for Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League Group A decider against CSKA Moscow.
Speaking to MUTV at the Aon Training Complex on Monday, the boss confirmed Nemanja Matic is definitely injured and unavailable for Tuesday night’s European tie at Old Trafford.
“We have problems, we have injuries,” Jose said. “Matic is injured and when I say he is injured, he is injured. I am not going to make him play so Matic is out. A couple of others guys are playing every match and they also need a rest. More importantly, the other guys deserve an opportunity to play.”
On the subject of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who did not travel to Arsenal on Saturday, Mourinho revealed the striker needed time out to work on his rehabilitation from the knee injury he recently returned from.
“He is okay but he needs, now and again, specific work on the muscle that supports that knee that went through such a difficult surgery,” the boss told us. “When he works really hard on that, he gets fatigue and you cannot play with fatigue. It is something that we knew would happen now and again, that he needs to stop playing to become ready for harder work for prevention.”
The boss later told reporters that Sergio Romero will start against CSKA Moscow with Joel Pereira on the bench as our back-up goalkeeper, providing David De Gea with a well-earned rest following his heroics against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Paul Pogba will also start against the Russian visitors, which Jose confirmed when asked how he has reacted to the red card he received in north London. “He's very happy to play tomorrow.
"It's the match that matters. He plays tomorrow. Of course, he's a bit tired because it was a huge match last weekend and just two days to recover for CSKA. But he's very happy to play tomorrow and to try to keep his momentum because since he was back from injury, he's been phenomenal.”
Asked if Luke Shaw might feature, the boss said: "He's working to have an opportunity and sooner or later, the opportunity will arrive. Because he deserves that opportunity. Selected for tomorrow, yes, for sure. To start or to be on the bench, I cannot answer."
Confirmed team news will be released on Tuesday at around 18:30 GMT.
Want to see the Reds in action? Tickets are still available for next Wednesday's Premier League home game against Bournemouth - book your seat now.
Team news: Manchester United v CSKA Moscow - Official Manchester United Website
ManU 0, hope we can score a winner in the Second Half!