Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has revealed that he is set to be without a raft of key players for his side’s clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday evening, with injuries decimating the Red Devil’s squad.
United host Chelsea knowing that their Champions League hopes are all but over, with a colossal collapse needed from both Arsenal and Tottenham to hand Rangnick’s side a sniff of a finish in the top 4 in a month’s time.
And their cause has not been helped by the latest team news, which has seen Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire and even Aaron Wan-Bissaka join the injury list since their trip to Arsenal on Saturday.
Rangnick says Maguire and Sancho are out, while Wan-Bissaka is a doubt. Fred, Cavani, Pogba and Shaw also still out. Youngsters certain to make squad. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) April 27, 2022
Rangnick claims that Maguire’s injury is to do with his knee, which could see him miss the rest of the season, while Sancho has toncilitis and Wan-Bissaka is ill. They join Fred, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani as injured members of the Manchester United squad.
As a result, there are just 14 senior players left available for selection against Chelsea, meaning that youngsters will certainly be involved if not from the start then within the 18 man squad.
Indeed, Rangnick could be tempted to throw them in the deep end against Tuchel’s side, with fit members of his squad including soon-to-be-leaving trio Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard as well as the out of favour Marcus Rashford.
Playing for places?
With a major squad overhaul needed and set to happen this summer at Old Trafford, those on the fringes will know that they are playing for their futures under watching future boss Erik ten Hag should they be selected against Chelsea.
The likes of Rashford, Dalot and Lindelof, as well as any youth players that are given the opportunity to impress, should all be looking to turn in brilliant performances to ensure that they are still Red Devils come the start of next season.
