Mourinho left short of midfield options

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admits he faces a “difficult situation” in Moscow as injuries to Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick have left him short in midfield.

Fellaini joined the list of absentees, which also includes Paul Pogba, after sustaining an ankle injury in Saturday’s win over Southampton following a first-half tackle from Shane Long.

Having watched replays Mourinho, who believes his side have to remain “humble” if they are to extend their unbeaten record this season, was unhappy with the challenge but he refused to criticise referee Craig Pawson.

“We don’t have Fellaini, we don’t have Pogba, we don’t have Carrick,” said the United boss ahead of the Group A match against CSKA Moscow.

“All three midfield players we lose for this match so the solutions are not many but we try not to focus on individual battles in specific areas.”

“Fellaini was lucky, it could be a much worse situation but in a moment when we don’t have Pogba and Carrick Marouane becomes even more important than he is and not to be here tomorrow is a difficult situation for us.”

● Antonio Conte urged Eden Hazard and Chelsea to seize their opportunity in tonight’s Group C clash at Atletico Madrid.

Diego Costa’s move to re-join Atletico from Chelsea, completed yesterday, is an intriguing sub-plot of the clash, but Conte preferred to focus on his current squad.

And the Italian wants Belgium playmaker Hazard, who is yet to start in the Premier League this season following his broken ankle in June, to build on his scintillating title-winning displays last season with Chelsea again among Europe’s elite.

Chelsea boss Conte said: “Last season, he showed in every game great talent, to be a really good player, a top player.

“This competition is very important for him, but I think it’s important for the team.”

Costa, who scored 59 goals in 120 games for Chelsea, will initially join Atletico on loan before signing for a reported fee of £58 million.