Celta plan to ambush the Devils
Depleted United have tough ask
JOSE Mourinho must patch up an injury-ravaged Manchester United squad as the side’s quest for Europa League glory faces its stiffest test yet with a semifinal, first-leg trip to Celta Vigo today.
The Portuguese manager described United’s nine-match April schedule as “not human” after another disappointing Premier League 1-1 home draw against relegation threatened Swansea City on Sunday.
His side’s schedule doesn’t get any easier, though, with six more games to come over the next 19 days in a bid to seal Champions League qualification either by winning the Europa League or squeezing into the top four of the Premier League.
“If we beat Celta, we have the final and, in this moment, it is obviously hypothetical,” said Mourinho.
“The Europa League final is on the Wednesday and we play against Crystal Palace on the Sunday.
“Before that we play Southampton away a few days before, so we would be playing the final with disastrous consequences.”
The English giants are without top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to cruciate ligament damage.
Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly add to United’s defensive woes as they join Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marco Rojo on the sidelines, meaning Mourinho will need to look for emergency solutions at centre-back.
Mourinho has been critical of Jones and Smalling’s unwillingness to play through the pain barrier and doesn’t expect them to rush back, meaning right-back Mateo Darmian, midfielder Michael Carrick or 19year-old Axel Tuanzebe could deputise at the heart of the defence.
“That’s my personal opinion. I don’t think they will [be fit] but I know the players I choose will give everything. It doesn’t matter if I go with Darmian or Carrick or Axel, I trust the boys.”
The visitors will have Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini available, whilst Juan Mata could make a comeback from groin surgery after being an unused substitute against Swansea.
Celta, by contrast, have had the luxury of resting up Eduardo Berizzo’s preferred XI for the majority of their recent La Liga games as the Galicians concentrate on trying to win a first ever major trophy.
“We also know what’s at stake – not only that you win the Europa League, which is huge, but you can also win a place in the Champions League,” Celta striker John Guidetti told UEFA.com. “You have dreams about that.” And the former Manchester City man would revel in ending United’s chances of winning the Europa League for the first time.
“As they say ‘Manchester is blue’, and that’s how it will be when we visit there as well, because we are Celta Vigo and we will try to keep the city blue.” — AFP