United secured a thrilling and dramatic 3-2
comeback against Newcastle before the
international break, but Saturday’s clash will
go a long way to determining whether that
was the spark that inspired an upturn in
form, or merely a flash in the plan.
Jose Mourinho welcomes back three
players from injury.
Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United have
suffered ‘important injuries’ during the
international break – but has been boosted by
Luke Shaw and Nemanja Matic both being
declared for Saturday’s clash with Chelsea.
Marcos Rojo is also in contention to play for
the first time this season, while Ander
Herrera is available after an ankle injury.
But Mourinho suggested there were deeper
fitness concerns ahead of his return to
Stamford Bridge in what is a must-win game
for United.
“The squad shape is that everybody available
is selected,” said the United manager.
“Some came back in good condition and the
happiness of some good results. Some came
back with injuries, injuries that we were
aware of when they happened and the
national teams were correct in sending the
boys back.
“We also had surprises with players that we
had no idea that they were injured and they
arrived with important injuries.”
Shaw is back despite pulling out of the
England squad for the games against Croatia
and Spain after sustaining a knock in United’s
3-2 win against Newcastle just before the
international break.
Matic was also a doubt for the game against
his former club when being sent home by
Serbia to receive treatment for a back injury –
but is available.
But the biggest surprise in United’s travelling
party for the lunchtime kick off against
Chelsea was Rojo, who has been out since
suffering injury for Argentina at the World
Cup.
The centre back then suffered a further
setback when limping out of his comeback
game for the under 23s last month.
Another returning player is Herrera, who has
recovered from an ankle injury sustained last
month.
“He trained two days but, with the situation
we have, is one step forward and he’s ready
to help us,” Mourinho added.
Meanwhile, Mourinho has revealed his
frustration at the timing of the latest
international break - coming after United’s
morale-boosting win against Newcastle.
He immediately had to watch the majority of
his players join up with their national teams
at a time when he wanted to build on the
dramatic comeback against Rafa Benitez’ side.
“I felt that after the match (there was a
change of attitude),” he said. “It looks an
eternity - they go and they come and they
come back step by step and even today we
don’t have every player back.
“So it is a bit strange when you come from the
international week, but I think the feelings of
the last match remain so the players are fine,
are happy and focused on the match.”
MAN UTD NEWS
Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Marcos
Rojo are all in contention to face
Chelsea after overcoming injury.
The trio were part of United’s travelling
party on Friday afternoon as they
boarded a train for London.
Shaw had to withdraw from the
England squad for the games against
Croatia and Spain after picking up a
knock in the 3-2 win against Newcastle.
Matic was sent home by Serbia with a
back problem, while Rojo hasn’t played
all season after picking up an injury at
the World Cup and then hobbling out of
his comeback for the under 23s last
month.
CHELSEA NEWS
Maurizio Sarri has condemned the
online abuse that Chelsea Women
captain Karen Carney received this
week as “disgusting” and unacceptable.
Carney was targeted on Instagram by a
user unknown to her, who sent her
rape and death threats during Chelsea
Women’s round of 16 first-leg
Champions League clash against
Fiorentina on Wednesday in which the
midfielder scored a match-winning
penalty to secure a 1-0 victory for the
Blues.
The Football Association released a
statement on Thursday saying they
were "appalled and dismayed" by the
abuse and urged the police to tackle
"this growing problem.
Chelsea also condemned the abuse that
Carney, 31, received and Sarri has now
done the same telling reporters at
Cobham: "I think, first of all, I watched
the last match against Fiorentina. She's
a very good midfielder. I think, she
scored.
"About the situation, what can I say?
It's not acceptable. It's disgusting. I
don't know what else to say."
When then asked if social media abuse
to both female and male Chelsea
players was an issue he was concerned
about, Sarri replied: "I don't know. I'm
not used to using (social media).
"I think you can use social media, but
only for working. Not for socialising. I
have a problem to speak with my
friends on the phone because I like very
much to speak to them face to face, to
have dinner together.
"So I don't know what to say. It's not
my world. I don't know."
A spokesperson for Instagram
confirmed the account that sent the
three abusive messages to Carney has
been removed while the Metropolitan
Police said it "takes allegations of
threatening and abusive behaviour very
seriously" and encourages victims to
come forward with their stories to allow
investigations to be carried on
Comments