Manchester United’s injury woes have increased, with nine players missing for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended after picking up a three-match ban for a clash with Winston Reid during United’s 0-0 draw against West Ham last weekend and Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling both picked up injuries against Wolfsburg on Tuesday as the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League.
They join Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw on the sidelines – although there is good news as Morgan Schneiderlin is fit to return for the game against the Cherries.
Here’s what Louis van Gaal said in his weekly interview with MUTV:
It is not so good because we have eight injured players because Darmian and also Smalling we can add to this list and Schweinsteiger is also suspended so nine players who are not able to play.
Schneiderlin is coming back that’s not a problem but we have a list of eight players injured and Rojo has been operated on this week and it takes a long time. These injuries are very heavy – Shaw and Valencia have also been operated and that’s our problem.
It is not beneficial for us because we have a heavy programme, but I believe that Smalling, Herrera and Darmian are coming back before Christmas.
The United manager also talked about lifting his players’ spirits after being knocked out of Europe’s premier club competition:
I try to but, of course, the players have to do that also by themselves they are also the professionals.
They need to use their tools to lift them up and we have a lot to fight for, I think. So we are very close in the Premier League to the top. We can fight for the FA Cup and fight also for the Europa League so I think we have enough to fight for.
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