In light of Tottenham Hotspur’s growing concern that Dejan Kulusevski may miss next week’s Europa League final, Manchester United may be about to receive a much-needed boost from an unhappy source.
Each team will have a chance to salvage success in an otherwise dismal season when the Red Devils travel to Bilbao to play their Premier League opponent.
Spurs are currently in 17th place in the Premier League table, while United is currently in 16th place and on course for their worst season ever. Together, the two teams have suffered 37 league losses thus far this season.
However, if the team wins in Spain next Wednesday, they will automatically qualify for the Champions League the following season, which is a nearly priceless prize considering the numerous financial advantages that come with joining Europe’s top league.
Ahead of the crucial match next week, both teams are anxiously awaiting the results of important players’ fitness tests.
Prior to the trip to Bilbao, United hopes to welcome back Diogo Dalot and Matthijs de Ligt. Additionally, there is still a slim chance that Joshua Zirkzee will make an unexpected comeback when it first seemed like his season was over due to a hamstring injury.
It’s still unclear what will happen to Leny Yoro, who was injured and had to leave Sunday’s match against West Ham. Except for Lisandro Martinez, who sustained a horrific ACL injury in February, the rest of Ruben Amorim’s team seems to be in terrific shape.
The Swedish international left the field after 19 minutes against Crystal Palace on Sunday due to a knee injury, and Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is worried about whether Kulusevski would be ready by Wednesday.
Although Postecoglou said the winger “should be okay” on Monday, the Manchester Evening News reports that “the Swede’s chances of recovering in time for next Wednesday’s final have since reduced,” according to sources close to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Since all three may fill the number ten spot in each other’s absence, Postecoglou will have an issue in his offensive midfield area if key players James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall are unable to travel to Bilbao.
However, sports are frequently a zero-sum game. When Postecoglou is having trouble with a problem, Amorim is winning because of that problem, and vice versa.
The possibility that three of Spurs’ best players won’t be able to play next week gives United a significant advantage. On the other hand, the Lilywhites will benefit personally if Dalot is unable to demonstrate his fitness by next week or if Yoro’s ailment turns out to be serious.
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