Manchester United could be without a key player for Saturday’s game against Arsenal.
Jose Mourinho’s team travel to the Emirates to play the in-form Gunners, who have won their last 12 games at home, and could be without Nemanja Matic for the fixture.
The Serbian midfielder, who has started all 14 of United’s Premier League games this season, and has appeared in 21 games in total in the current campaign, will travel with the team to London, but may not be fit enough to play. Matic limped out of the 4-2 win over Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday after 54 minutes with a muscle injury.
Mourinho gave an update on the midfielder’s fitness in his press conference on Friday.
Jose Mourinho has told #MUTV he doesn’t know if Nemanja Matic can play against Arsenal, but the Serbian will travel with the #MUFC squad for Saturday's game. pic.twitter.com/Dm2mpTaumy
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 1, 2017
“Matic is a doubt,” Mourinho told reporters.
“I hope he can but I cannot guarantee he is selected to go. Let’s see the feeling before the match, let’s see the warm up. I hope he can, I want to, he wants to, but I cannot guarantee, and Fellaini is not travelling with the team.”
Matic has been a guaranteed starter for Mourinho this season, and the United manager has been known to want his team to play through the pain barrier. John Terry claimed that he took pain-killing injections and played with a broken toe for a year when Mourinho was his manager at Chelsea, such was the coach’s desire to get his best players on the pitch.
So, there’s every chance that Matic could still feature against Arsenal. But there’s also a chance he might not be ready to start, after picking up his injury just a few days ago.
Mourinho ruled Phil Jones, Marouane Fellaini and Eric Bailly out of the game.
Jose Mourinho confirms Phil Jones and Eric Bailly are not available for our trip to Arsenal. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/46V9jTBW4R
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 1, 2017
