Team news: Chelsea v United
Ruben Amorim says his team selection for Friday’s Premier League clash at Chelsea will not be overly influenced by the Europa League final.
The trip to Stamford Bridge is our final outing before we take on Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, with Spurs also in action on Friday, as they travel to Aston Villa.
Both sides have five days to recuperate from their top-flight exploits before meeting at San Mames.
Amorim feels that’s more than enough time and that, unless they are carrying injuries, his players need to play to ward off any potential rustiness.
“If there is a player that can get an injury [and is] not recovered for this game so [it] will put him in risk for the final, he will not play,” said the boss.
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Ruben Amorim explains his thinking around team selection for Chelsea (A), our last game before Bilbao...
“But if it’s not that situation, we will have a lot of time to recover, and we cannot spend eight days, nine days without a game.
“That is a bad thing for the final so I think they will be prepared for the game.
“The best thing to prepare the final is to play the game. The players have to understand that if you play or don’t play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final, that is important.
“I’m just preparing the game of Chelsea, that is my focus. We want to win and we want to perform.”
On Wednesday, Amorim conceded it was unlikely that four of his injured defenders would feature in London.
Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro have all been sidelined, although the 40-year-old added that there is a ‘possibility’ some of them will be back for the final.
Lisandro Martinez and Joshua Zirkzee are out, but Toby Collyer and Jonny Evans have returned to group training and could be options against the Blues.
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United are winless in seven league games but there’s a chance for players to impress and potentially force their way into Ruben’s plans for Spurs.
“Like I said to you, I don’t know [my XI for the final yet],” he continued. “I know the starting XI I am thinking for Chelsea, then I will see.
“Even the way we play there, against Chelsea, I will see it and it’s going to be important for the next one.”
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CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
The home side are without Nicolas Jackson through suspension after his red card at Newcastle United on Sunday, while Jadon Sancho is unable to play against his parent club.
Marc Guiu and Christopher Nkunku have been injured, so the Blues may go into the game without a traditional striker – Pedro Neto and youngster Tyrique George are alternative options in the no.9 position.
Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman and Mykhailo Mudryk will also be missing.