Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick provides team news ahead of Arsenal clash
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Arsenal game, as quoted by the club’s official website, Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has provided the latest team news as we head to the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.
The game will be crucial for our top-four hopes, with Arsenal one of the teams battling us for fourth place in the Premier League table, aside from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. The Red Devils currently sit in sixth place.
Rangnick provided a positive update on the team, informing the press that Scott McTominay, Raphael Varane, and Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for the game on Saturday. The trio had missed our previous match against Liverpool.
“Scott McTominay will be back and fit to play. He has been training with us and will train today, so he will be available for the game tomorrow. The same is true with Rapha Varane and, obviously, Cristiano is available again.”
United suffered a horrendous time in our previous PL fixture, losing 4-0 at Anfield to a Liverpool side that ripped apart our depleted squad. Aside from the returning trio, the Manchester side were also without Fred, Edinson Cavani, and Luke Shaw.
“I don’t think it’s very likely”
Paul Pogba started the game against the Merseyside club, but was withdrawn in the opening ten minutes of the fixture after he suffered an injury. He was replaced by Jesse Lingard in midfield, who played the rest of the match alongside Nemanja Matic in midfield.
Rangnick had some bad news to give on Pogba’s injury, saying that it was not very likely that he will be able to play for the club again this season, as the doctors have informed him that it will take a minimum of four weeks to recover.
“With Paul, it seems, after the scan we did yesterday or the day before yesterday, it’s very unlikely that he will play until the end of the season again. The doctor told me that it will take four weeks, minimum, for him to recover and, since the last game is at the end of May, I don’t think it’s very likely that he will be able to play again.”
After last week’s disappointment against Liverpool, the Arsenal game presents us with an opportunity to bounce back and make a good impression. There is further incentive to win against the Gunners as well, in the context of the heavily contested battle for a top-four spot.
While United sit sixth, the north London side is in fifth place and lies three points ahead. However, Mikel Arteta’s team have a game in hand over the Red Devils, which could prove to be a turning point later on in the season.
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With Pogba’s recent injury and Fred seemingly not fit enough for the away trip tomorrow, McTominay’s return will prove to be a huge boost for Rangnick given how light our midfield looks at the moment. The Scot and Matic remain the only choices in the middle of the park, and it is likely that the two could pair up against Arsenal tomorrow.
Ronaldo and Varane’s return will also be a big help to us, as a win against the Gunners is crucial for our Champions League qualification hopes. An away game will be tough, but our returning players have enough experience to deal with pressure and deliver when called upon.
