Shropshire Star

Jose Mourinho short on numbers in midfield ahead of CSKA Moscow clash

Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick have joined Paul Pogba on the sidelines.

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admits he faces a “difficult situation” in Moscow as injuries to Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick have left him short in midfield.

Fellaini joined the list of absentees, which also includes Paul Pogba, after sustaining an ankle injury in Saturday’s win over Southampton following a first-half tackle from Shane Long.

Having watched replays Mourinho, who believes his side have to remain “humble” if they are to extend their unbeaten record this season, was unhappy with the challenge but he refused to criticise referee Craig Pawson, who booked the Saints striker for the challenge.

“We don’t have Fellaini, we don’t have Pogba, we don’t have Carrick,” said the United boss ahead of the Champions League match against CSKA Moscow.

“All three midfield players we lose for this match so the solutions are not many but we try not to focus on individual battles in specific areas on the pitch.

“Fellaini was lucky, it could be a much worse situation but in a moment when we don’t have Pogba and Carrick Marouane becomes even more important than he is and not to be here tomorrow is a difficult situation for us.

“But I expect Fellaini not to be out for a long time and after Crystal Palace there is the international break and Belgium I think were the first team to qualify so are not under pressure for a special big match so Fellaini will be back for us.

“For me Crag Pawson is one the big talents of refereeing and he had an amazing game in my opinion, he was so calm and in control. No camera for Craig and he made that decision.”

After defeat in the European Super Cup against Real Madrid in early August United are unbeaten in eight matches, winning, seven.

Jose Mourino has a depleted squad in Moscow
Jose Mourino has a depleted squad in Moscow (Ivan Sekretarev/AP)

They had to grind out a 1-0 win on the south coast last weekend and Mourinho has told his players they have to be patient and learn to deal with the opposition having spells of dominance.

“We cannot guarantee this line of success but the way to try to keep it is to do what we are doing,” he added.

“If the opponent has moments of superiority we have to be humble like we were against Southampton and cope with the difficult moments of the game.

“In the second half we had to be humble and accept the opponent was on an high and we had to fight hard.

“It was a mixture of our quality and dominating like do but accepting when the opponent has a strong moment you have to cope with it.”

CSKA Moscow, whom Mourinho has previously faced as manager of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Chelsea, beat Benfica last time out so they and United are leading the race in Group A.

Victory would give his side a handy three-point cushion ahead of next month’s trip to Portugal.

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