Victor Lindelof is set to make his Champions League debut for Manchester United when they host FC Basel at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Manchester United make a return to the Champions League after a one-year hiatus on Tuesday when they host FC Basel at Old Trafford in a Group A match. Ahead of the encounter, here’s the all-important team news for the Red Devils.
Jose Mourinho did not have any fresh injury concerns to report during his pre-match press conference, ahead of the visit of Basel. Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (both knee) are the only long-term absentees, and are unlikely to return till the end of the year.
Mourinho on Lindelof: “He needs a bit of time to adapt to the Premier League but he’s a very good player with a lot of potential.” #MUFC pic.twitter.com/avwRchpbqH
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 11, 2017
Meanwhile, Marouane Fellaini continues to remain a slight injury doubt due to a calf strain he sustained during international duty with Belgium. Asked about his availability, Mourinho did not confirm when he would make a return, although he did confirm that it was a recurrence of a previous injury.
“Fellaini didn’t train yesterday so let’s see if he can today,” he said. “Yes, he had a problem with his national team and then he played a match against Greece, and after the match he felt the problem.”
Meanwhile, the Manchester United boss will also be without the services of his two first-choice centre-backs on Tuesday. Eric Bailly and Phil Jones are unavailable for selection as they serve the last of their respective suspensions.
The duo will be replaced by Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof, who are set to make their first starts of the season, at the heart of the Manchester United defence, with Mourinho confirming the same following the 2-2 draw at Stoke City on Saturday.
“They are all at the same level so it is no problem at all,” the Portuguese manager said about his centre-backs. “Even if Jones and Bailly were not suspended, I would probably play Smalling and Lindelof. I trust them. I am not worried at all that Bailly and Jones are out.”
The boss confirms @D_DeGea will start against FC Basel: “He is doing really well and is very confident, & I’ll go with him again tomorrow.” pic.twitter.com/JNStJETG6e
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 11, 2017
Mourinho also confirmed that David De Gea will start in goal on Tuesday instead of using Sergio Romero as his regular goalkeeper in Europe like last season, claiming he will not necessarily have a separate shot stopper for cup competitions this time around.
“I don’t like that clear separation of ‘I play in this competition and you play in this competition’,” he said. “And I think in this moment, David is playing very well and is very confident. I will go with David tomorrow again.”
Meanwhile, Raphael Wicky has no fitness issues on his hands ahead of the visit to Old Trafford, and the Basel boss has taken a full-strength squad to Manchester. An intriguing tie, thus, seems to be setting up as Manchester United eye a winning return to the Champions League.