Early casualties for the start of the upcoming season: Dalot (recovering from a knee injury), Valencia (calf injury) and Matic (recovering from an operation on an unspecified injury). A blow to an extent, but an opportunity for a couple of players to step up...
Mourinho confirms Matic will miss the start of the season www.bbc.com/sport/football/44995528 The obvious silver lining is that it should give a nice little run to AP, who is proving an excellent alternative at that position for us so far this preseason.
The only info I was able to find re Matic's injury is that it's some kind of abdominal injury. Don't know it's exact nature, why he needed surgery and how long he will be out. As mentioned by Mourinho during his press conference, Smalling, Shaw (knocks?) are hurt. And Bailly, who was not supposed to play appear to have aggravated an ankle injury. Fingers crossed, it's nothing serious considering that's what kept him out extensively last season. But at least, it explains his poor performance yesterday.
So basically, our backline is injured or crap, midfield is injured or on vacation and frontline is on vacation?. Nice.
Mourinho said during the press conference that after Smalling went down, Bailly stepped in and decided to play as to not have 3 youngsters going against Pool's frontline. Although, the way Bailly played and after aggravating an existing injury, perhaps it would have been wiser for Williams to start.
I get that but it is also pre-season. No better time for sink or swim and to see who is able to step up or shake a bad performance.
I agree that it really was not the best decision, but that pretty much encapsulates what Mourinho is about. He knows that Bailly is injured, but he's going to be happy that he stepped up in spite if that, even if it was illadvised in all points of view: he was nowhere near his normal form (it showed, badly) and worse, he apparently made his prior injury worse. Going with Williams from the start, even with Timmy and Tuanzebe would have been the correct choice (Tuanzebe and Williams have history also as a duo, which could have been beneficial as well).
Bailly and Herrera injury doubts after Bayern game; https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...ailly-withdrawn-during-bayern-munich-friendly
Per Mourinho, Valencia and Matic are back in training. This week is too early for either player to come back. Dalot is also back in training and still on track for a September return.
Hopefully Matic takes a LOOOOOOONG time to recover. Hopefully with more midfield options José doesn’t feel the need for him to play often or at least not all the damn time. As much as I think Matic is garbage, he wasn’t helped by being run into the ground. He’s way too big a guy to be played as often as he was. Maybe AP and Ander and Fellaini will all be used to keep everyone fresh. I’m hoping Fellaini is strictly a plan B this season but if we kept Pogba to 75 minutes in games we have control of, it would be nice so we can keep him fresher. I’m hopeful, but I don’t think Dalot gets more than 2 starts before the Christmas period.
Mourinho did not provide specifics in terms of the nature öf Sanchez's injury, but he expects him to be out for a week or two.
Latest injury update from Mourinho at today's press conference ahead of Burnley. Dalot and Romero will play with the U23s today. Jones is out injured. Rojo has been back training with the team for the past couple of days, but is not ready yet.
The questions journalists ask I tell you, they are dumb. No wonder why Mou dislikes them. I would ask: Could Tuanzebe have been a solution for the first team? prior to him going on loan. Where do you see Martial best position? How would you fit Sanchez and Martial in the same formation? What is the best defensive line for the type of players you have high low middle? What role does Pereira play this season? What types of things he needs to work on? There are countless questions that can be asked that are relevant footballing wise.
Rojo, who Mourinho expected to play the full 90 today in United's U23 game vs Reading, had to come off at the 55th min, limping and went straight doen the tunnel with the team doc. The nature of his injury is unknown at this time. Dalot, on the other hand, completed the game without any problems.
Meh, who cares. Even a fully healthy Rojo is at best our 5th choice CB. He just needs to leave. He was never good enough.
Herrera is fit again and good to go. Rojo is the only player remaining on our injury list at this time.
I never want players to be injured, but I never want to see Rojo wear our jersey again. So I find myself in a pickle...
Lingard, Herrera, AY (plus long term absentee Rojo) have all missed training and are not expected to take part in tommorrow's game vs Valencia.
The announcer mentioned that AP was out due to injury also. Is that so? We have no midfield. Matic starts the forward attack; he does not have the talent to do so. Pogba can't run the game from midfield by himself. AP and Fred are necessary for cohesion and success in the midfield. Also, Rashford cannot take corners anymore. What a waste! We had so many corners and only one, ONLY ONE, was remotely a threat.
The one was from Shaw and Rashford too the next one and was shit again. He should never take corners. He clearly doesn't practice.