Jose Mourinho Delivers ‘Fairly Negative’ Injury Update Ahead Of Trip To Turf Moor
Reuters / Andrew Yates
Things are getting tougher and tougher for Manchester United, as injuries keep mounting at the business end of the season.
The Red Devils managed to pluck out a 2-1 victory over Anderlecht in extra time, thanks to Marcus Rashford and his instinctiveness in front of goal. But United were dealt a couple of injuries in this tie that can scupper their remainder of the season.
Jose Mourinho is already missing centre-back pair of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling through injuries, and he had to replace Marcos Rojo in the first half of the quarterfinal tie after he collided with an opponent.
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Daley Blind took his place for the rest of the game, and it is understood that he might keep his place in the Premier League game at the weekend at Turf Moor.
But that was not it. Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who now has 28 goals to his name in all competitions, also picked up a niggle, as he landed awkwardly after going for a ball in the air.
And Mourinho revealed after the game that neither of the players looked good enough for the weekend fixture.
The Portuguese stated that the early news on the injuries is “fairly negative,” and added: “I want to wait but my feeling is not good for both. I want to wait and be optimistic but I am not.”
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Mourinho also spoke about Jones and Smalling, and wanted them to be brave and step up in this crunch time. He felt that they should play through pain for the rest of the season, and revealed that if he was in their place, he would have started training already.
“They have to be brave now. If it was me, it [returning from injury] would be tomorrow,” Jose claimed.
“It is time for Jones and Smalling to be brave, to risk, because for the team we have to do everything. That is the way we think. They cannot do miracles but with a special spirit, instead of coming back mid-May you can come back at the beginning of May. They could accelerate the process.”
Manchester United play Burnley (kick-off 14:15 BST) on Sunday in the Premier League.