ManU ‘in trouble’ with injuries: Mourinho

AFP, MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s mounting injury problems mean they are “in trouble” going into the season’s decisive weeks, according to manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho lost Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimiovic to injury during Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final win over Anderlecht, the pair joining Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata on the sidelines.
Mourinho hopes Wayne Rooney will quickly rediscover match sharpness following his return from an ankle injury and believes Mata could play again despite previously suggesting his season was over.
In this moment, Eric Bailly played six matches in a row — 540 minutes in a row. We lost Marcos Rojo. We don’t have Jones, we don’t have Smalling. We are in trouble. 
Rooney has not played since United’s 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion on April 1 and had become a peripheral figure even before then, but Mourinho indicated he could now play an important role.
Smalling, Jones and Rojo’s injuries leave Bailly and Daley Blind as United’s only fit senior centre-backs. As a result, Mourinho also expressed reservations about 19-year-old Axel Tuanzebe’s likely involvement in England’s Under-20 World Cup campaign in South Korea next month.
United travel to Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday, when victory will take them to within a point of Manchester City, who welcome them to the Etihad Stadium next Thursday.
City, who play Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, occupy the fourth and final Champions League berth. United can also qualify for the competition by winning the Europa League. Mourinho confirmed both Ander Herrera and Ashley Young will start at Burnley, having spent the 2-1 second-leg win over Anderlecht — which secured a 3-2 aggregate victory — on the bench.
“One yellow card, he misses the semi-finals. I was thinking about (bringing on) him and (Marouane) Fellaini both at the same time, but because I did a change with Marcos Rojo, I couldn’t do (it) and he couldn’t play. “So Herrera is fresh to play. Ashley Young is fresh to play. Who else? Nobody else is fresh to play.”
Marcus Rashford scored United’s extra-time winner against Anderlecht and looks set to deputise up front for top scorer Ibrahimovic, who is still to commit himself to United beyond the end of the season.

ManU in trouble with injuries: Mourinho

AFP, MANCHESTER: Manchester Uniteds mounting injury problems mean they are in trouble going into the seasons decisive weeks, according to manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho lost Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimiovic to injury during Thursdays Europa League quarter-final win over Anderlecht, the pair joining Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata on the sidelines. Mourinho hopes Wayne Rooney will quickly rediscover match sharpness following his return from an ankle injury and believes Mata could play again despite previously suggesting his season was over. In this moment, Eric Bailly played six matches in a row 540 minutes in a row. We lost Marcos Rojo. We dont have Jones, we dont have Smalling. We are in trouble. Rooney has not played since Uniteds 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion on April 1 and had become a peripheral figure even before then, but Mourinho indicated he could now play an important role. Smalling, Jones and Rojos injuries leave Bailly and Daley Blind as Uniteds only fit senior centre-backs. As a result, Mourinho also expressed reservations about 19-year-old Axel Tuanzebes likely involvement in Englands Under-20 World Cup campaign in South Korea next month. United travel to Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday, when victory will take them to within a point of Manchester City, who welcome them to the Etihad Stadium next Thursday. City, who play Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, occupy the fourth and final Champions League berth. United can also qualify for the competition by winning the Europa League. Mourinho confirmed both Ander Herrera and Ashley Young will start at Burnley, having spent the 2-1 second-leg win over Anderlecht which secured a 3-2 aggregate victory on the bench. One yellow card, he misses the semi-finals. I was thinking about (bringing on) him and (Marouane) Fellaini both at the same time, but because I did a change with Marcos Rojo, I couldnt do (it) and he couldnt play. So Herrera is fresh to play. Ashley Young is fresh to play. Who else? Nobody else is fresh to play. Marcus Rashford scored Uniteds extra-time winner against Anderlecht and looks set to deputise up front for top scorer Ibrahimovic, who is still to commit himself to United beyond the end of the season.