Manchester United Champions League preparation don collect another hit as Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw both miss training before di trip to Atletico Madrid. Di absence throw dia availability for di big fixture into doubt and e pile more pressure on Michael Carrick.
Decision on whether di two players go travel to Spanish capital dey expected later. United dey count on di game to restore some balance after dia stuttering start to di season.
Shaw own case look more straightforward. Di club talk say dem give am scheduled rest day, because he start Saturday 1-1 Premier League draw with Tottenham before Ayden Heaven replace am for stoppage time. Di England full-back also sit out United Champions League league phase meeting with Sabah last month through injury, so dem dey monitor him situation closely before di next game.
Mainoo absence raise bigger questions. Di midfielder play full 90 minutes against Spurs with no obvious sign of problem, then he skip Monday morning session. Carrick and him staff go wait on news of both men before flying to Spain. United badly need technical stability and can’t afford to lose influential players at dis stage of campaign, with di manager desperate to name him strongest possible side against Atletico.
Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo missed Manchester United training on Monday ahead of di Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. A decision go dey made later in di day on whether dem travel to di Spanish capital for wetin be huge game for United and head coach Michael Carrick.
Also missing from Monday session na Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui. Sesko and Dorgu miss out as dem dey recover from dia respective injuries. Sesko dey suffer from shin issue and Carrick, speaking last week, confirm say he no sure how long he go dey sidelined. Di striker miss di last three games of last season and all pre-season due to shin injury, but Carrick talk say of him current problem: It’s a similar area, but it’s not di exact same thing again. And we still dey work through am small to see how long di issue go be. We dey hope say e go soon, obviously, but at dis moment e still no quite clear.
Dorgu pull out of international duty with Denmark after picking up suspected hamstring injury against Wales, and dem expect say he go out for few weeks. Mazraoui withdraw from international duty with Morocco last month after picking up knock against Lesotho. Carrick suggest say late decision go dey made on him involvement against Tottenham, but he no fit enough to make squad and now e look set to miss game against Atletico.
Matthijs de Ligt take part in training as he continue him comeback from injury but e no clear whether he go travel with squad today. Di Dutchman arrive with squad to face Tottenham last weekend but dem no name am on bench, just as e be against Fulham. United dey carefully handle De Ligt as he reach final stage of recovery from back surgery.
Atletico Madrid dey second for La Liga and dem enter di United clash having won four straight games, including victory against dia rivals Real Madrid.
Diego Simeone don coach Atletico since December 2011, over a year before United greatest ever manager retire in May 2013, after 26 trophy-laden years at di helm. In di years since Ferguson leave, United don go through series of slumps under seven permanent managers, plus other caretakers and interims, and dem fail to win single Premier League title.
By contrast, Atletico maintain dia position among Spain elite under Simeone, winning La Liga in 2014 and 2021 despite battling against financial and sporting might of giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. Di Rojiblancos don play for Champions League in every season since 2013-14, reach final twice and semi-finals on two further occasions. United, however, don miss out on Europe top competition multiple times since Ferguson departure, a remarkable decline for club wey spend much of di Scot reign as one of continent dominant forces.
Atletico keep strong identity under Simeone, in terms of dia non-negotiable work ethic and drive, even if dem turn from rock-solid defensive outfit into team more comfortable on attack. United don get string of managers, with different philosophies and consistency only in dia lack of sticking power. Even Atletico stadium na reminder of dia differences. Di modern Metropolitano go host di Champions League final in June, having already stage di 2019 showpiece, won by United rivals Liverpool, while Manchester United Old Trafford no selected as venue for Euro 2028.
Atletico supporters get dia own host of complaints, particularly with expectations rising over Simeone tenure, but when you contrast am with constant upheaval at Old Trafford, dem fit perhaps dey grateful for some continuity dem enjoy.
Dis season, Atletico start well despite uncertainty surrounding former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez during summer. Di Argentina forward ultimately stay for Madrid despite trying to force through move to Barcelona, and he dey begin to find him form. Alvarez hit post as substitute as Atletico snatch late 2-1 win at Alaves on Saturday to record fourth consecutive victory. Simeone talk say he think Julian look good today, say he come on with enthusiasm, eager to do well and help team, and he finish match well.
Even without Alvarez playing key role, Simeone side dey second for La Liga and beat Jose Mourinho Real Madrid before di recent international break. Michael Carrick United, meanwhile, dey struggle to find same consistency, sitting 13th for Premier League and enduring dia worst start to domestic campaign since 1986/87. Di draw against Tottenham on Saturday increase scrutiny on Carrick and him team. Di Red Devils get two victories from eight matches across all competitions dis season. Carrick talk say di reality na di reality, dem get to accept am. He talk say dem need put things for direction, positive direction quite quickly, and e pretty plain.
Dem criticise di Red Devils for lack of running dis season, including against Tottenham, who cover more kilometres and sprint both further and more times. Something wey no go ever fly for Atletico task-master Simeone. Man United hammer Azerbaijani side Sabah 4-0 for dia Champions League opener but di visit to Metropolitano offer vastly different proposition, against team with wind for dia sails and culture of grit shaped over more than decade.
