Man Utd predicted lineup vs Chelsea: Carrick given two major selection dilemmas
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Chelsea: Carrick given two major selection dilemmas Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick is forced to negotiate a crucial clash against Chelsea with a depleted backline. The Blues will host the Red Devils at Samford Bridge on Saturday. The contest kicks off at 20:00 UK time.
With only six rounds remaining before the end of the season, this fixture could represent a turning point in the battle for Champions League spots. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY Chelsea, who currently lie 6th in the table and four points adrift of the Top 5 zone, find themselves in Last Chance Saloon, while 3rd-place Man Utd have the opportunity to bounce back from Monday’s defeat to Leeds and blow one of their rivals out of the race.
Man Utd in a state of emergency at the back Sadly for Carrick, his backline has been pared down to the bone. Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire are both suspended after seeing red in the previous two rounds , while Matthijs de Ligt has been out of action since November. Things got from bad to worse for United, as it has been revealed that Leny Yoro has also picked up a knock, leaving Ayden Heaven as the only available centre-back.
At this stage, the four-man defence picks itself, with Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, and Luke Shaw joining Heaven. Nevertheless, the question remains who will be the second centre-back. Carrick will obviously have to pick between Mazraoui and Shaw, who have both played at CB before, albeit mostly in a three-man backline.
Since Heaven is left-footed, pairing him with the right-footed Mazraoui might be the more natural choice, with Shaw keeping his place at left-back. Which Man United attacker will be dropped against Chelsea? On Monday, Mainoo’s creativity and flair were sorely missed in midfield.