Marcus Rashford scores to edge Manchester United towards a European final, prompting Jose Mourinho to confirm there will be major rotation for his side’s trip to Arsenal on Sunday.
Here’s the Scout Notes from the Europa League semi-final first leg in Spain.
Celta Vigo 0 Manchester United 1
Marcus Rashford earned and then converted a second-half free-kick that was the least United deserved on a night of dominance in north-west Spain.
But the final whistle had barely been blown before Jose Mourinho began talking up the need to rest players for next Thursday’s second leg, meaning a much-changed team is likely to take the field against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
The United coach had spent large portions of the build-up to the Celta Vigo match discussing squad rotation to combat the Red Devils’ fixture congestion, as we highlighted in yesterday’s Say What? article.
And he was true to his word post-match, declaring:
“That is what I have to do, so I am going to. The players that have accumulated lots of minutes are not going to play next weekend.”
United’s squad has sufficient depth that whatever team travels to north London will contain a number of seasoned and proven performers. And Mourinho’s options have dramatically improved this week, with Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones all back from injury.
The former started the match, while Smalling came on as a late substitute, Mata remained on the bench and Jones was not part of the squad.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if all featured in some capacity against Arsenal.
Rashford limped off towards the end of the match in Spain, with Mourinho confirming that the 19-year-old had started the match with a “small problem” exacerbated by Thursday’s exertions. The 14%-owned striker will likely be preserved on Sunday, while the well-owned defensive duo of Antonio Valencia (16.1%) and Eric Bailly (9.3%) could also be rested.
The Ivorian centre-half, in particular, fits Mourinho’s criteria for rotation – he’s started the last eight league matches while cover at the heart of the defence has been so thin on the ground.
The return to fitness of Smalling and Jones should solve that issue, but the sight of Ashley Young coming off the bench last night only to last 11 minutes before a hamstring problem curtailed his involvement throws up new issues.
Luke Shaw’s season-ending injury means United are not blessed with depth at left-back which could see Daley Blind, who has started the last three league matches at centre-half, being asked to switch to the left flank at Arsenal.
The alternative would entail Matteo Darmian swapping sides, meaning a Sunday run-out for Valencia. But Mourinho has been very keen to rest the Ecuadorian – he has started only three of United’s last six domestic matches.
Up front, Rashford is easily replaced by either Wayne Rooney or Anthony Martial, while Michael Carrick could well earn a start in midfield at the Emirates.
The Europa League tie is still not done and dusted, however, which could bode well for those Fantasy managers with Arsenal players in their ranks. And the potential confusion over full-backs could particularly play into the hands of the 26.3% who own Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal’s two double Gameweeks were always going to attract interest in their assets, with the United match the toughest of their four fixtures over the next week-and-a-half.
The prospect of that encounter now involving a weakened United line-up with their eyes on Thursday’s semi-final second leg could well prompt a late rush for Gunners coverage.
Manchester United XI: Romero; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Darmian; Herrera, Fellaini, Lingard, Pogba, Mkhitaryan (Young 78); Rashford (Martial 80).
Subs not used: de Gea, Mata, Rooney, Smalling, Carrick.
