Injuries mar United’s Europa march
Quarterfinal win over Anderlecht leaves Ibrahimovic, Rojo hobbling
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he was preparing for bad news after losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo to injury during Thursday’s 2-1 extra-time Europa League quarterfinal win over Anderlecht.
“I want to wait, but my feelingisnotgoodforboth,”Mourinho said after the win at Old Trafford that completed a 3-2 aggregate victory.
The scrappy, sapping victory keeps United on course to claim the only major trophy missing from the club’s collection.
“I want to wait and I want to trytobeoptimistic,butI’mnot,” the manager said.
Centerback Rojo was stretchered off with a leg injury in the first half, while Ibrahimovic, United’s 28-goal top scorer, hobbled off in stoppage time after his right knee bent the wrong way.
Mourinho said he expected to find out more about the two players’ injuries “within a couple of days”.
Marcus Rashford proved a capable fill-in for Ibrahimovic, scoring the brilliant winner to send United into the semifinals for the first time.
The 19-year-old also scored the opening goal in United’s 2-0 win over Chelsea last Sunday when Ibrahimovic was rested.
Daley Blind took over from Rojo, but Mourinho has fewer options in central defense, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones both currently sidelined.
The pair sustained injuries on England duty a month ago, Smalling injuring his knee and Jones his foot.
Mourinho said both players would be able to come back sooner than anticipated if they put their minds to it.
“I think it’s time for Jones and Smalling to be brave, to risk,” said the Portuguese, whose side visits Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday before tackling Manchester City next Thursday.
“Because for the team, you havetodoeverything.That’sthe way I think.
“You cannot do miracles. I don’t expect miracles. But you have to try to do everything to accelerate the process.
“Even with a crazy mentality, they cannot play on Sunday. There are no miracles. But with a special spirit, you can play sooner than expected. Maybe instead of mid-May, you can come back to play in early May.”
Asked when the pair might likely return to action, Mourinho replied: “If it was me, I think tomorrow.”
Mourinho had kinder words for leftback Luke Shaw, after publiclyandsharplycriticizing the England international on several occasions in recent weeks.
“Luke did something new for me that means a lot to me,” Mourinho said.
“After 90 minutes, before I knewthatIhavetochangeZlatan, Luke had cramps. I had Ashley Young ready to come on, but Luke told me, ‘I am going to play these 30 minutes with cramps. No problem. If you need to make a change in another position, do it, because I’m ready for it.’
“These are the kind of things that make me have trust in a player. Mentality is fundamental.”
Mourinho also expressed reservations about reports England Under-21 coach Aidy Boothroyd plans to call Rashford up for the Under-21 European Championship in Poland.
“He cannot play every game,” Mourinho said after being asked if Rashford was capable of filling in for Ibrahimovic.
“On top of that, I think you are trying to take him for the Euro Under-21s. It’s hard for the kid in terms of playing every match, but I always trust the playerswithaspecialmentality.”
Rashford teed up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a 10th-minute goal that put United 2-1 up on aggregate,onlyforcaptainSofiane Hanni to equalize for Anderlechtinthe32ndminute.
Roared on by its raucous away support, Anderlecht gave United several scares before finally succumbing in the 107th minute.
“We played a very good match. Unfortunately the result isn’t so good,” said the Belgians’ coach, Rene Weiler.
“We played very well in the first half. We equalized, but couldn’t score a second goal. When you concede a winner in extra time, it’s always difficult to find a way back.”
Elsewhere, Ajax reached its first European semifinal in 20 years with a 4-3 aggregate win over Schalke after extra time and Celta Vigo reached a European semifinal for the first time after a 1-1 draw at Genk gaveita4-3aggregatewinover the Belgians.
In Istanbul, Lyon beat Besiktas 7-6 on penalties after the Turkish side had won 2-1 on the night to level the tie at 3-3.