Defensive trio suffer injuries.
Manchester United have suffered a blow early in the season as Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael da Silva have all been sidelined with injuries following the champions’ 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the opening week of the new campaign, BBCSport has revealed.
Ferdinand will be out of action for at least six weeks after the 32-year-old suffered a hamstring injury and had to be substituted during the second-half. Vidic, who was also substituted, is expected to be sidelined for two weeks with a calf injury and Rafael could be out for 10 weeks after he dislocated his shoulder in training.
Ferdinand is expected to miss United’s next five fixtures, which includes games against Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea. He will also be unavailable for England’s Euro 2012 qualifying fixtures against Wales and Bulgaria.
When asked about the injury worries, Sir Alex Ferguson said: “We’ve had a torrid time with injuries. Young Rafa has done his shoulder in training on Friday and will be out for 10 weeks. He’s probably going to have an operation. Rio will be out for six weeks. Vida will have checks on Monday, we don’t know if it’s just a nerve or something, but he could be out for a couple of weeks.”
Scroll down for rest of article
Hernandez determined to improve.
Javier Hernandez is determined to repay Manchester United for the faith they have shown in him by contributing even more than he did in his debut season.
The 23-year-old had an impressive first season at Old Trafford as he scored 13 league goals for the Red Devils following his transfer from Chivas Guadalajara.
Chicharito says he has been treated “wonderfully” by Manchester United and he feels he has more to offer the club after the prosperous debut season he enjoyed.
He told FIFA.com: “I’ve been treated wonderfully in Manchester, and I simply need to repay that faith. I had a very good first season and I hope to be able to contribute much more. I think there are good times ahead with this team and I’m very excited about the opportunities ahead in the coming season. I’ve been treated wonderfully in Manchester, and I simply need to repay that faith. I had a very good first season and I hope to be able to contribute much more.”
Hansen questions De Gea.
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is in trouble as he has lost the faith and confidence of his team-mates, according to football pundit Alan Hansen.
De Gea cost his new team a goal on Sunday when he let a Shane Long shot slip under his arms and into the net, making his second mistake in two weeks in United colours and Hansen believes that he his team-mates now have no confidence in him.
Hansen feels that with matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea coming up, the team’s lack of faith in the 20-year-old shot-stopper has come at the worst possible time.
He wrote in his article in The Telegraph: “After making two mistakes in two weeks, United now find themselves bereft of confidence in their goalkeeper when their opponents will start to believe they have found a chink in the champions’ armour. Such a lack of faith could hardly have come at a worse time: next up at Old Trafford are Tottenham and Arsenal, two sides who United cannot just steamroll over”
Who will be the next Manchester United manager? Find the latest next Man Utd Manager odds with OLBG.com.
Don’t forget to check out the Man Utd page, updated daily here at A Different League for the latest in-depth analysis.
