Erik ten Hag has conducted his pre-match press conference before Manchester United play Leeds United tomorrow night.
United face their bitter rivals twice within the space of five days, travelling to Elland Road on Sunday to face the club who have just sacked Jesse Marsch.
Leeds have confirmed that Chris Armas is part of a three-man caretaker coaching team taking charge against United and the American worked at Old Trafford last season under Ralf Rangnick.
Ahead of the match, Ten Hag was asked about the fitness of his squad ahead of the game, with Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay missing Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Erik ten Hag press conference before Manchester United vs Leeds United
Ten Hag said that the pair would still be missing here, as well as winger Antony: “They [Martial and McTominay] are not involved tomorrow,” said Ten Hag.
“And the same with Antony dos Santos. He is also not available for tomorrow so we have to sort that out.”
That means there will at least be two changes from the weekend starting XI, with Casemiro out suspended and Ten Hag said of the Brazilian: “After a game I can’t say ‘Casemiro is not there, Anthony Martial is not there’.
“We have to win. Manchester United are capable and we have to win the games no matter who is on the pitch. I always have to deal with the players who are available. We have a group, we have a lot of good players in our squad.”
It was always likely that Casemiro’s absence would see Marcel Sabitzer come into the team from the start for this hotly contested game.
Alejandro Garnacho made a strong impression off the bench against Palace, and he looks the likeliest candidate to come into the team with Antony out.
But it cannot be ruled out that Jadon Sancho makes a first start since the World Cup, as he continues his route back to full form and fitness.
It is frustrating that McTominay and Martial remain out, giving Ten Hag less depth in key areas of the pitch, but United should still be able to get the job done here.