Dugout Discussion

Villa v Man Utd team news: Ronaldo’s absence explained, Digne starts

The most-captained ‘active’ player of Double Gameweek 22 is absent from Manchester United’s matchday squad this evening as the Red Devils prepare to face Aston Villa.

Kick-off in the Midlands is at 17:30 GMT.

Cristiano Ronaldo was handed the armband by over 1.5 million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers in Gameweek 22, with 52% of the top 10k doing likewise.

He missed United’s cup clash with Villa on Monday as a precaution because of a hip issue but returned to training later in the week, with Ralf Rangnick saying in Friday’s pre-match press conference that he expected him to be fit for the weekend.

But he’s missing altogether at Villa Park, with FPL owners facing an anxious wait to see if he recovers for the match against Brentford on Wednesday – and Rangnick would only say that he was “hopeful” that that would be the case:

“With Cristiano, it’s unfortunately still the same problem with his hip flexor. He couldn’t train yesterday, and I had a conversation with him. After training, we decided that it doesn’t make sense if he’s not feeling fully fit to take the trip here. It makes sense to have treatment at home and then hopefully be available again for the game on Wednesday at Brentford.” – Ralf Rangnick

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford also miss out because of illness and a dead leg respectively, while Harry Maguire, Phil Jones and Jadon Sancho are only among the substitutes after their own recoveries from injury.

“Aaron (Wan-Bissaka) unfortunately is ill, that’s the reason why he couldn’t travel with us.

“Harry (Maguire) was out for two weeks, I’m happy to have him back in the squad again but I decided to stay with the two central defenders that played on Monday. With all the games coming up in the next couple of days, it’s most likely that he will play again then.

“Marcus (Rashford) conceded a dead leg two days ago in training. At first, it didn’t seem to be that bad, but overnight it got worse and he couldn’t train yesterday.” – Ralf Rangnick

All three of Rangnick’s changes from Monday’s cup tie are enforced, with Rashford sidelined and Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay suspended. Teenager Anthony Elanga, Alex Telles and Nemanja Matic come into the side.

As for Villa, one of their new signings starts and the other is on the bench.

Lucas Digne makes his debut and replaces Matt Targett at left-back, while Morgan Sanson is in for the suspended John McGinn in midfield.

Philippe Coutinho has to make do with a place among the substitutes.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 22 LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Sanson, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Watkins, Ings, Buendia

Subs: Steer, Targett, Young, Coutinho, Hayden, Hause, Chukwuemeka, Archer, Iroegbunam

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles, Fred, Matic, Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Elanga, Cavani

Subs: Heaton, Henderson, Jones, Maguire, Mata, Lingard, Sancho, Van de Beek

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1,580 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Subbing Bruno off?

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      yep

    2. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Delighted as a capper tbh.

      1. wildebeest123
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I mean you would rather he stayed on to get a hat trick… silly.

        1. FPLtfs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Hey, CR7 capper.. are you even watching the game? RC looked more likely than a hattie.

      2. Kellz86
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Exactly, onward to the next match

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Resting him for a repeat in the next match

  2. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    JLing the saviour?

  3. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    No hattie , but good that MU dropping points , success

  4. fplgaruda
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Damn, Bruno avoiding his RC

  5. No_Mo_Salah?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Was advised not to BB with Sanchez, Cancelo, Dawson and Ramsey because of Ramsey! No one to blame but myself .. should go with gut

  6. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Countino isn't going to be playing this utd defence every week

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Plays Everton next week.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        😆 thank you for the reminder

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        New coach effect will help Everton?

    2. Fabreghastly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Just needs DGW confirmation for me to get him in

  7. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    So next Covid outbreak will be at Villa based on Martinez hugging hordes on unmasked fans...

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Outrageous

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Don't worry he won't catch it

        1. FPLtfs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Slippery day for him

        2. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          I see what you did there

    3. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      adverts?!

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Wtf

      2. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        switch to PL

    4. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Rat leading Rsmsey by 1

    5. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Well… still pissed at no Ronaldo, and my own failure to get Bruno (would’ve been captain) instead…

      But lovely to see this Villa comeback, and see Coutinho score - I’ll be getting him in very soon!

    6. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Wtf

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 2 months ago

          ?

          1. Bubz
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Started showing adverts mid game

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                2 years, 2 months ago

                Didn't even notice!

              • Gizzachance
                • 9 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                Yeah I’m n main event !
                Not on pl channel, weird

          2. Rinseboy
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            wtf were those random ads!

            1. _Ninja_
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Only had them on main event. Sky sports Premier league didn't have them

        • Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          How many goals Bowen Lanzini Antonio will get against this defence?

          1. JBG
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            1

          2. Kellz86
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Lesson for this season, fixtures mean nothing

        • Pieters 4 Wood
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Ramsey first bench, brilliant. If Ronaldo shows up, i'm f*d

        • Rainer
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          DDG 7th & BAP, maybe.

        • Big_Andy_GAWA
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          7th save there, yeah??

        • Walter White (WW)
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Utd fans just gotta accept that Utd are a mid table club now

        • fplgaruda
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Ashley Young is still alive!

        • Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Team finally deleted, feel so elated!

          1. Mr. O'Connell
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            How'd you do that?

            1. Zimo
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              U lose your account

              1. Mr. O'Connell
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                Small price to pay

            2. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              users.premierleague.com

          2. fplgaruda
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Good bye

            1. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              All the best

          3. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Now let it go. I've done it before. Take a break. Don't undelete.

            1. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              I got my mate to change the password for me and then delete

              1. Zimo
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                See u next season hopefully

                1. Big boy Bowen
                  • 7 Years
                  2 years, 2 months ago

                  Yes all the best, was the right decision - just wasn’t enjoying it anymore

          4. Pompel
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            See you next season 😉

            1. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Yes I fully intend to! So long as back to normal with regards to COVID

          5. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Delete the one on here too

            1. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Why? I’ll have nothing to moan about now 😉

              1. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                Unless the players I had start now hauling every week lol

        • Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Jorginho to Coutinho

          Done

          1. Kellz86
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            A bit sideways imo

            1. Ginkapo FPL
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Hardly. Chelsea have no games, Villa have doubles

          2. Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            A spot in your team reserved for ‘inho’s’? Not a bad idea!

        • ClassiX
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          To be honest, I still can't see any discernible system ManU are playing

          1. NorCal Villan
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            They’d be better off going to this

            https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg5ZrkaGlFA

            1. ClassiX
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              🙂

        • Mr Arsenal
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Ramsey and Cancello on my bench. Not great..

          Please cancel all the games

        • Tango74
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Right time to get couthinio if he has DGW?

          1. Danstoke82
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Seriously considering it

          2. Mr Arsenal
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Yes - I’d triple up Ramsey, Cout and Cash

          3. The Train Driver
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            For sure, and capping!

          4. Kellz86
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Absolutely

        • Grande Tubarão
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          This week is proof this game is all luck, no skill. My players didn’t get points and other people’s did.

        • JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Did Coutinho not get an assist?

          1. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            No, Fred tackled him and it fell to Ramsey.

          2. Paqueta Rice
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            No Fred got a foot in

        • Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Score check. 8 from 5 played inc captain. Time for a big drink.

          1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Well done to front up.

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Perversely I quite enjoy the weeks they completely tank my season

          2. JONALDINHO
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            50 from 7

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              42 from Ben Davies and Maddison and I'll be right up there with you

          3. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Going to be a lot of people in this same boat.

          4. mojoindojo
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            11 from 6 including cap.

          5. Ron_Swanson
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            45 from 8

          6. No_Mo_Salah?
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            7 (-4) from 5 with 21 points (plus baps) on the bench

          7. lugs
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            40 from 6, 12 to go, 30pts on bench too lol

          8. Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Don't ask, GW to forget 🙁

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              It's these gameweeks that ground us. That shape us. That define us.

              1. Magic Zico
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                😆 I don't buy it but thx for the advice

        • Bubz
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Hold on to those 3 baps Bruno

          1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            47 each with Rambo so on 3

        • It’s gonna Ben Mee
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Gallagher and Ramsey on my bench. I’ll see myself out.

          1. Paqueta Rice
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Damn, I’m annoyed with just Ramsey

          2. Hiiler
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            I played Ramsey, but to be honest i wasn't expecting any points from him. Played him because others on bench won't have games this GW or are defenders with not good fixtures. So in a sense he saved my GW at least for now .:)

            1. Hiiler
              • 2 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              And of course since Man united defense is not great, but i expected more points from Watkins, then from Ramsey.

              1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
                • 10 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                Yeah, I started Watkins of course

        • kempc23
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Im really tempted to wildcard to get rid of Ronaldo, Reguilon, Livramento, Johnson, Gray and Saka, attack the Villa DGW, triple up City (Cancelo, Foden, Kdb) and prep the team for Salahs return.

          Anyone else considering it?

          1. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Learn from this gameweek. DGWs are fools gold.

          2. Kellz86
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Foden is going kill you for price/output

        • THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Ramsey is 4.6m…. Unreal value

          1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Who misses out in that Villa front 4? Ings?

        • JBG
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          DDG 2 baps?

          1. JONALDINHO
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            1

            1. Dammit_182
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Still. 2 save points and a bp is nuts.