Erik ten Hag has conducted his pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League game against Sheriff Tiraspol tomorrow night.
After losing our Group E opener against Real Sociedad, the Red Devils have won the last three games to stay within touching distance of the La Liga side.
Ten Hag’s side needed a 93rd minute winner from Scott McTominay to see off a stubborn Omonia Nicosia in our last Europa League match.
Ahead of tomorrow’s home game against managerless Sheriff, the former Ajax manager was asked to provide a fitness update on Raphael Varane.
Fitness update on Raphael Varane
“Raphael Varane isn’t in the squad and he will certainly be out until the World Cup,” Ten Hag said.
“He could play at the World Cup, but it depends on his rehab.”
Varane was visibly emotional when he had to be replaced by Victor Lindelof on the hour mark of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It looked like the 29-year-old had overstretched when attempting to tackle Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and with the World Cup round the corner, the four-time Champions League winner may have feared the worse after picking up the injury.
There was no mention of Anthony Martial who has missed United’s last four games with a back problem after coming off on the half hour mark against Everton earlier in the month.
The former Monaco man is yet to play more than 45 minutes in a game for the Reds this season, but he does have three goals and two assists to his name from 133 minutes of action.
As well as Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny van de Beek returned to team training yesterday.
The twenty-time league champions beat the Moldovan side 2-0 in Chisinau last month thanks to a Jadon Sancho strike, and a Ronaldo penalty.
Sheriff confirmed yesterday morning that Stjepan Tomas had resigned as manager after taking blame for Sheriff’s first domestic defeat of the season on Sunday.
United will be looking to do the double over the Moldovan top-flight league leaders ahead of next week’s showdown against Sociedad in San Sebastian.
The top side progresses automatically to the knockout stages of the Europa League next year, while teams that finish as runners-up in the groups will meet a third-placed team from the Champions League in a play-off.
United only need a point to guarantee qualification, but Ten Hag will want victory to ensure his side can still pip Sociedad to the all-important top spot and prevent adding two games to an already heavily congested schedule.
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