Man Utd can catch up in the top four after this week’s results when they play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight when they return to the capital.
Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane arrive with the United squad at Stockport station (Image: Eamonn and James Clarke)
Following his recovery from an injury that kept him out of the Manchester United squad on Saturday night against Brentford, Raphael Varane is included in the team to play Chelsea.
Along with Jonny Evans, the center back was a member of the traveling party that boarded a train on Thursday morning from Stockport to travel to the capital. Erik ten Hag will now have a choice of three center backs because Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez will be sidelined for a month each due to muscular injuries.
Mason Mount, who scored his first goal for United in the 1-1 draw at Brentford on Saturday, is also included in the squad as he gets ready for his first trip back to Stamford Bridge. Amad, who was sent off after scoring against Liverpool in the FA Cup, is back after serving a one-game suspension against Brentford.
If United can defeat Chelsea tonight, they will have an opportunity to close the gap on Aston Villa and Tottenham in the competition for Champions League football. Spurs drew at West Ham on Tuesday night, while Villa lost at Manchester City on Wednesday.
“I have high standards and I would be disappointed if we didn’t qualify,” Ten Hag stated.
We’re not in a good position, so I know it will be very challenging. However, we have a standard amongst ourselves here: we want to win every game. We’ll carry on and maintain our faith in those principles. That’s how we’ll play every game. We’re going to fight to the very end. I am aware of our unfavorable situation. We need to make up for lost time.
Ten Hag has disclosed the extent of Chelsea’s efforts to retain their academy graduate in the summer, and Mount will be eager to build on his brief appearance off the bench against his former team at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Ten Hag remarked, “I don’t think they wanted to sell him.” They repeatedly made him an offer of a new contract in an attempt to retain him. But this was a step he wanted to take.
“We are very pleased he is a Manchester United player because he has great abilities and will contribute and become a big player for Manchester United.”
Onana, Heaton, Bayindir, Dalot, Maguire, Evans, Varane, Kambwala, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Amrabat, McTominay, Mainoo, Eriksen, Mount, Fernandes, Garnacho, Antony, Amad, Rashford, and Hojlund are the confirmed members of the squad.
