Quarter-Final in France Offers More Questions than Answers
There’s something oddly hypnotic about Manchester United this season. Not the good kind, mind you — more like watching a tightrope walker who’s dropped the pole and insists they’re still balanced. And as they prepare to face Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final first leg tonight, the predicted lineup reveals a side lurching between promise and patched-up necessity.
Kobbie Mainoo, the bright spark from a bleaker midfield winter, is back in training after two months out with a calf injury. His return is timely, if not entirely reassuring. “In this moment, we have to be careful with Kobbie,” said manager Ruben Amorim. “He had some games out so we have to be careful with his fitness. We are really pleased with him, but we have to be careful with him.”
That refrain — ‘we have to be careful’ — has become a kind of unofficial club motto this season.
Defensive Crisis or Just Another Day?
The absence of Matthijs de Ligt continues, his foot injury lingering like a bad subplot. Lisandro Martinez, Ayden Heaven, and Jonny Evans are all out. In response, Harry Maguire is expected to partner the increasingly composed Leny Yoro, who’s looked like the one adult left in the room.
“Matthijs has a problem with his foot. We are trying to assess. We don’t have the data on when he can return,” Amorim explained. “Toby [Collyer] has a small issue in his leg.” The kind of update that raises more eyebrows than hopes.
Mount’s Shadow, Garnacho’s Flicker
Luke Shaw is available — nominally. But Patrick Dorgu is tipped to hold his place at left-back. Mason Mount, fresh from his own sabbatical from relevance, made a brief cameo last weekend. Don’t expect more than that in France.
Alejandro Garnacho’s form has become something of a philosophical debate. Is he just inconsistent, or is inconsistency now his identity? Up front, the decision rests between Joshua Zirkzee, who started the Manchester derby, and Rasmus Hojlund, who may be rotated in.
Man Utd Predicted XI vs Lyon
Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
Injured: De Ligt, Martinez, Amad, Heaven, Evans, Collyer