Erik ten Hag will be without a number of his senior Manchester United players for the first leg of the Europa League play-off clash against Barcelona, thanks to injury and suspension
A depleted Manchester United will be looking to overcome injuries and suspensions as they head to Barcelona for the first leg of their Europa League play-off.
Erik ten Hag’s side picked up 15 points from a possible 18 in their group, but it was not enough to deny Real Sociedad top spot and a bye to the last 16. As a result, they need to get through two legs against a Barcelona side who have dropped down to the Europa League after finishing third behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in their Champions League group.
Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek have known for some time that they would miss this game. Van de Beek left the field in tears after a freak injury against Bournemouth in early January, while Eriksen is not expected back until April after being forced off in the FA Cup win against Reading.
Scott McTominay is also expected to miss out through injury, while question marks remain over Antony and Anthony Martial. The two forwards have missed recent games, and were nowhere to be seen in a training session ahead of the trip to Catalunya.
With Martinez unavailable, manager Ten Hag is expected to choose between Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof to play alongside Raphael Varane. There is also some positive news for the visitors in the confirmation that Casemiro will be part of the travelling party, with the former Real Madrid man fresh for the tie as he continues to serve a Premier League ban.
Barcelona will also be depleted, but not to the same extent. Xavi’s side have confirmed Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele are missing through injury, though Spain midfielder Busquets could be back for the second leg.
There are still a few decisions for Ten Hag to make in the lead-up to kick-off. One comes in attack, where Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst look likely to start but Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho will both be battling it out for the third spot in Antony’s absence.
Casemiro and Fred are expected to start in central midfield, but the boss could yet opt for youth. Barcelona will be able to call upon Spanish starlets Gavi and Pedri, and – while far less experienced than the opponents’ pair – Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo have been training with United’s first-team and looking to make an impression with so many players missing.
Finally, there are questions all across the defence after Diogo Dalot’s recent return on the right to give Aaron Wan-Bissaka competition. On the opposite flank, Tyrell Malacia started against Leeds on Sunday but is only likely to keep his place if Ten Hag decides to continue using the Dutch international’s fellow left-back Luke Shaw in the middle.
Man Utd squad for Barcelona away: David De Gea, Tom Heaton, Jack Butland; Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Raphael Varane, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams; Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Casemiro, Facundo Pellistri, Zidane Iqbal, Kobbie Mainoo; Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Wout Weghorst, Anthony Elanga, Alejandro Garnacho.
Xavi insists De Jong never wanted to sign for Man Utd; describes Red Devils as ‘happy again’
Barcelona boss Xavi claims Frenkie de Jong never wanted to leave the Camp Nou to join Man Utd in the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils’ interest in the Netherlands international soon turned into a saga over the summer with the two clubs even reportedly agreeing a fee in principal.
But for one reason or another the deal never got closer than that with rumours De Jong didn’t want to move before Barcelona paid the money owed to him in deferred wages from over Covid.
However, Xavi insists that the Barcelona midfielder never wanted to leave Barcelona for Man Utd ahead of the two clubs playing each other in the Europa League on Thursday,
When asked about Man Utd interest in De Jong, Xavi told reporters: “I think he was really clear to me: he wanted to stay with us. So there was no doubt.
“Now he’s our player, I’m really happy and satisfied with his performances, his leadership. He’s in a very good moment, like all the team. I think Frenkie is enjoying on the pitch and this is the most important thing.”
On the first leg of their match against Man Utd on Thursday, Xavi added: “It’s going to be a big game. It’s a spectacular knockout round for all neutral football fans. Arguably both teams are arriving in their best form so far this season.
“I believe that Ten Hag has certainly changed this team. It was difficult at first but now he’s doing an excellent job.
“They’re a potent team with a physical fortitude, they have a lot of weapons and it’s going to be a difficult tie. I expect a lot of intensity, a lot of rhythm, that’s what you expect from English sides.
“And this is in a European competition so we want to show that we can play at the highest level and it’s a great game for us. I expect the best.”
Xavi continued: “For me Ten Hag is a great coach. It wasn’t easy to change the situation in Manchester United. They’re happy again, I think also the way they are playing says a lot.
“He has a lot of variance in attack, defensively they all work very well – they are a difficult opponent.
“I think he is a very interesting coach for me, he does things very well, he varies with the three lines, sometimes the pivots play on the outside, a lot of people are incorporated into the attack, he’s very offensive and you see that in pretty much all his matches. He’s a reference point for all of us offensive coaches that love this style of play.”
Source: mirror.co.uk; football365.com
