Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling join injury list
Manchester United suffered two more injuries last night, with Matteo Darmian damaging his hamstring and Chris Smalling picking up a groin problem.
Darmian was substituted after he hurt his hamstring, but at the time of Smalling‘s injury, Louis van Gaal had used all his three subs, meaning the England international had to stay on the pitch for the remainder of the game.
After the game, Van Gaal refused to reveal the extent of the injury, but he admitted that Smalling staying on possibly cost them the game, with Naldo scoring a third from a corner where the United centre-back couldn’t even jump.
Injury Blows
“Matteo Darmian has a hamstring injury and Smalling probably a groin injury,” he confirmed.
“Smalling could not jump at the moment of the set plays and that goal [Wolfsburg’s third] was also because of that. He had to give it [defensive responsibility] to another player and that’s always a question of communication and quality. With Naldo [who scored twice], we knew in advance that he was a very important header for them.”
When asked about their availability for the Bournemouth game at the weekend, Van Gaal added:Â “I don’t know, it’s happened this evening, but normally they are out for Saturday.”
Darmian and Smalling now join Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin and Wayne Rooney on United’s current lengthy injury list.
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
