After watching their team earn a 3-0 victory in their Europa League first leg game against Saint-Étienne, Manchester United fans were hoping José Mourinho might rest some first-teamers for the return fixture.
United have the small matter of the League Cup final coming up against Sunday, and supporters naturally want players well-rested for the meeting with Southampton at Wembley.
Mourinho is Mourinho, though, and he is often prone for naming a strong XI to make absolutely sure, and more than a few fans weren’t best pleased to see so many big names in the line-up.
It’s almost as if he was tempting fate, and – sure enough – one of those starters was forced off injured after just 25 minutes.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan had put United ahead at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard, all but sealing their place in the last 16, but he didn’t even last half an hour before he was withdrawn for Marcus Rashford.
And, considering his recent contributions, he could be a big loss if the injury forces him out of the final.
5 – Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been involved in 5 goals in his last 6 games for Man Utd in all competitions (3 goals, 2 assists). Schemed.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 22, 2017
There was a definite ‘I told you so’-style reaction to the sight of the Armenian leaving the field early, and his absence will be felt even more keenly if Mourinho’s men lose to the Saints.
https://twitter.com/MainManMourinho/status/834456237051936768
https://twitter.com/nevtime/status/834454389226164315
Just knew someone would get injured and miss the final. Had to be Miki 😒😩 ffs
— T (@talha_hernandez) February 22, 2017
I knew someone would get injured. I just knew it
— Morayo Sanni (@MorayoSanni) February 22, 2017
Plenty are fearing the worst.
Even if this ends 10-0 it will be a phyrric victory if we lose Mkhi for Sunday's final #mufc
— MÖ (@Al3xGone) February 22, 2017
Fuck me would be a blow if Mkhi misses the final, that's the issue with these kind of games
— FIGHT4MUFC (@mufc4thefans) February 22, 2017
Hopefully just precaution with Mkhi & not a tear! Need him for the final, Rashford is on now big chance for the lad to impress. #MUFC #UEL
— A D A M (@UnitedObsessed) February 22, 2017
And, of course, there is plenty of sympathy for a player who was starting to really hit his stride after a slow start to life at Old Trafford.
Argh, poor Mkhitaryan. Twice injured just when he has become the creative heart of the attack.
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) February 22, 2017
Still, it’s not as if United are short on options to replace the former Dortmund man.
https://twitter.com/iblamemarcus/status/834455076374708224
https://twitter.com/utdjolie/status/834455154531434497
So I guess that's now martial Ibra Mata for the final, no Mkhi, shouldn't have played him
— FIGHT4MUFC (@mufc4thefans) February 22, 2017
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