WHO REPLACES BRYAN MBEUMO: CUNHA, MOUNT MUST FILL 6-GOAL VOID AFTER AFCON EXIT
Manchester United faces a lineup headache with Mbeumo, Amad, and Mazraoui leaving for AFCON. Amorim's plan involves Yoro returning and banking on a fit Martinez and Sesko.
Manchester United got back on track Monday night, crushing Wolves 4-1 at Molineux. It was a pretty easy game for United; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes with two goals, and Mason Mount all scored. Amad and Noussair Mazraoui also played, but their upcoming absence could be a problem as the holidays get closer.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United: Ruben Amorim press conference
Mbeumo, Amad, and Mazraoui are all heading to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) this month. When they're leaving, exactly is still up in the air. After the Wolves game, Ruben Amorim sounded hopeful they might be around for next Monday's game against Bournemouth. He mentioned the club is talking to the national teams and expects to know more mid-week, viewing the ongoing communication as a positive sign.
Mazraoui's Morocco starts their tournament on Sunday, December 21, the same day United plays Aston Villa in the Premier League. Mbeumo's Cameroon and Amad's Ivory Coast both start their AFCON run a bit later, on Christmas Eve.
Amorim hinted that we should know when they're leaving this week, but the team needs to plan for how they'll play without them right away. With that in mind, here's a look at how United might set up without their African players in the coming weeks...
First, look at the defence. Mazraoui has been starting over Leny Yoro recently. The Frenchman was the main centre-back pick for a while, but after some tough games against Everton and Crystal Palace, he was dropped.
Yoro has been coming off the bench, so he'll likely be back in the starting lineup with Mazraoui gone. When he's healthy, Matthijs de Ligt would usually be in the mix, but Amorim isn't sure when he'll be back. Ayden Heaven is another option, but Lisandro Martinez—a key player before he got hurt—is getting close to being fully fit and could be back in the side.
Next, there’s the right wing-back spot, which Amad currently has. He's been a standout player there this season, fitting into the role really well.
Diogo Dalot has been improving, so the obvious move would be to put him back on the right, his preferred side, and bring Patrick Dorgu back on the left.
Dalot and Dorgu have been sharing time on the left, but Dalot should look more comfortable on the right without Amad. The biggest absence will probably be Mbeumo.
He scored again on Monday and is United's top scorer with six Premier League goals, putting him amongst the top scorers in the league.
Matheus Cunha is back from injury, which is good news! He can play in the No. 10 role with Mason Mount, who's been playing his best soccer since he moved from Chelsea.
That would leave either Joshua Zirkzee or Benjamin Sesko, the usual No. 9, up front, once he's fit. Amorim said last month that Sesko's return would be around the same time as when players leave for AFCON. His agent says he'll be back very soon, but we don't know if the Slovenian will be ready for the first game without the other three. After that, though, he should be leading the attack.
Here's a possible Man Utd starting lineup without the AFCON trio: Lammens; Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Cunha; Sesko
BRUNO FERNANDES FUMES AS ROMEO LAVIA ESCAPES RED CARD FOR CHELSEA STAMP
Manchester United beat Chelsea 1-0! Bruno Fernandes fumes at a missed red card as United close in on the top four.
Bruno Fernandes didn’t hide his anger on Saturday when a possible red card went unpunished during Manchester United’s 1-0 win against Chelsea. Thanks to Matheus Cunha’s goal in the first half, Michael Carrick’s team tightened their grip on a Champions League spot, grabbing all three points at Stamford Bridge.
Now, United sit 10 points ahead of Chelsea, who are sixth and chasing that final Champions League spot. With five games left, Carrick’s side only needs six more points to guarantee a return to Europe’s top competition, a stage they haven’t stepped on since 2023.
Still, Fernandes was frustrated with referee Michael Oliver’s decision in West London. At one point, Romeo Lavia seemed to stamp on him after a foul, and Fernandes made his feelings clear. Most folks would expect a red card for something like that, but Oliver didn’t even flash a yellow.
Honestly, it didn’t ruin United’s night. The mood’s good; Carrick has turned things around since taking over for Ruben Amorim in January. United have only lost twice in the league this year, and Champions League football looks almost nailed on at this point. But Fernandes isn’t celebrating just yet.
After the game, he spoke with TNT Sports: “It’s an amazing feeling for us. We had to bounce back – not just because of Leeds, but the two games before that, where we didn’t win. We knew we had to put in a big performance; Chelsea is a strong team. Getting three points is huge because our target is the top four, and this gives us some breathing room. I feel like we’re three points closer. We’ve got another key game coming up, and we know we need more points to finish the job. We’ll do everything we can to wrap it up soon.”
Individually, Fernandes is having a massive season. He’s just two assists shy of the Premier League record, with five matches to catch Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s joint record of 20. And the hunger’s still there.
He said, “I say this all the time: I want to do better than last season. I want to improve my whole game. Every week, I’m trying to get better because I want to finish my career at the very top.”
FA UPHOLDS HARRY MAGUIRE MISCONDUCT CHARGE; DEFENDER OFFICIALLY BANNED FOR CHELSEA TRIP
Man United hit with a major blow! Maguire misconduct ban confirmed as Chelsea eye a crucial Premier League win.
Harry Maguire is staring down a one-match ban and a fine after the Football Association upheld a misconduct charge against him. The Manchester United defender will miss the trip to Chelsea, which only makes an already messy situation worse for Michael Carrick at the back.
Things aren’t looking great for United’s defence right now. According to The Athletic, Maguire won’t play against Chelsea this weekend. He’s still in trouble for how he went after the fourth official in that Bournemouth match, where he got sent off. It’s extra frustrating because Maguire just served another suspension during United’s 2-1 loss to Leeds after getting dismissed in that wild 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Carrick’s relied on Maguire a lot since taking over; 10 of his 14 league starts have come under the new manager, so this is a rough blow.
The FA made their stance clear after Maguire allegedly swore at fourth official Matt Donohue following his red card for a foul on Evanilson. The league is strict about how players treat officials, and this outburst crossed the line. In their words: “It is alleged that the defender acted improperly and used abusive or insulting words and behaviour towards the fourth official following his dismissal.”
And Maguire’s not the only headache for Carrick. Lisandro Martinez is also likely out, probably facing a three-match ban after pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair and getting sent off against Leeds. United’s appealing it, but PGMO chief Howard Webb hasn’t left much doubt: hair-pulling counts as violent conduct, full stop. Clubs get that reminder every season, and pulling someone’s hair with force? The refs won’t hesitate to show red.
So now Carrick’s options are threadbare. With both senior centre-backs banned, he’s got little choice but to start Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, a pair of teenagers at Stamford Bridge. United is hanging onto third in the league for now, but Chelsea could close the gap to just four points if they win. No experienced backups, the pressure of Stamford Bridge, and the season’s most crucial spell ahead, these young defenders are about to get thrown straight into the deep end.
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