Manchester United play our final match before the Europa League final when we travel to Chelsea in the Premier League for a Friday night clash under the Stamford Bridge lights.
Head coach Ruben Amorim was in no doubt about the disappointment caused by Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to West Ham United, and, while he’ll be focused on ensuring key players are injury-free and well rested for next Wednesday’s final, there’ll be a burning desire to right some wrongs.
United’s European form has been excellent this season — we’re unbeaten and have netted 14 goals in our last four games — but we’ve been found wanting in league fixtures. The defeat to West Ham was our 17th this season. Amorim will demand better on Friday.
Will he rotate with Europe in mind, or will he seek momentum and rhythm for a potential final starting line-up?
Read on for the key context to that debate, plus everything you need to know about Friday’s game, including how you can follow the action...
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW CHELSEA V UNITED
Chelsea versus Manchester United is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, with kick-off at 20:15 BST.
We have extensive coverage throughout the week, building up towards an exciting night game. Tune into MUTV on Wednesday morning for live training before Ruben’s press conference later in the week. Details on that will be communicated in due course.
On Friday, check the United App for updates from London throughout the day, and then watch Match Day Live from 19:10 BST, where we’ll have all the build-up from Stamford Bridge, including the team news.
Whether you're watching, listening or on the move, the United App is the place to be during the game itself, with radio commentary, updates from inside the ground, expert analysis and trending live stats.
Match highlights will be available from midnight.
TEAM NEWS
Amad’s return from injury continued on Sunday with another lively performance, and his availability is a huge boost going into the Europa League final.
However, several players are being managed going into that clash in Bilbao, and there was a fresh concern around Leny Yoro at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Yoro was substituted 52 minutes into proceedings, being replaced by Harry Maguire. We’re yet to discover the full nature of Yoro’s injury, but may learn more in Amorim’s press conference.
Maguire is one of a few players whose minutes are being managed going into the final. Ruben has also mentioned Noussair Mazraoui as one of those, while Toby Collyer, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Jonny Evans, Ayden Heaven and Joshua Zirkzee are currently sidelined. Lisandro Martinez will not play again this season, due to a serious knee injury.
De Ligt was ruled out of our most recent game, but Amorim did say last week that the problem he picked up at Brentford was classified as “not a big issue.”
We await to see if he could return at Stamford Bridge.
For the hosts, who also have a European final to think about, in the Conference League, Wesley Fofana is out for the rest of the season with a thigh injury. Christopher Nkunku could return before the campaign’s end, but may miss this one as he recovers from a knock suffered in training before Chelsea’s semi-final first leg against Djurgarden. Jadon Sancho cannot face his parent club, while Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended since December.
Forward Nicolas Jackson was sent off in the Blues’ weekend loss to Newcastle United, meaning he’s suspended.
Tyrique George has served as Jackson’s deputy in the Conference League this season. Marc Guiu was injured back in January and hasn’t played since but Blues boss Enzo Maresca has hinted at a return recently.
FORM GUIDE
While United have been relishing every European occasion in recent months, our league form has been undeniably disappointing. Our last Premier League win came at the King Power Stadium on 16 March, when we beat Leicester City 3-0, with goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
We’re now on a run of seven league games without a win — two draws, five defeats — and have been edged at home by both Wolves and West Ham recently.
Chelsea had been on a stellar run of form prior to last weekend, when their hopes of finishing in the league’s top five were dented by a 2-0 away loss to third-placed Newcastle United.
Before then, as well as defeating Djurgarden in both legs of their Conference League semi-final, Chelsea had beaten Fulham, Everton and Liverpool.
Aston Villa are now level on 63 points with Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest are just one behind, so Maresca will need to prioritise this game and is likely to select the Blues’ strongest XI.
RIVALS WATCH
FRIDAY 16 MAY
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (19:30)
Chelsea v UNITED (20:15)
SUNDAY 18 MAY
Everton v Southampton (12:00)
West Ham v Nottingham Forest (14:15)
Brentford v Fulham (15:00)
Leicester City v Ipswich Town (15:00)
Arsenal v Newcastle (16:30)
MONDAY 19 MAY
Brighton v Liverpool (20:00)
All times in BST.