Manchester United are gearing up to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League this week but Jose Mourinho has been hit with a double blow.
This was always going to be a big week for Erik ten Hag.
The Manchester United boss returned from the international break with his job still in tact and he simply had to pick up results.
United came from behind to beat Brentford on Saturday afternoon with Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund securing a 2-1 win.
Now the attention turns back to the Europa League with United travelling to take on Turkish side Fenerbahce on Thursday.
This means Ten Hag will come up against former United boss Jose Mourinho, who became Fenerbahce boss over the summer.
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Fenerbahce suffer double blow ahead of Manchester United clash
United need a win after a stuttering start to the Europa League campaign.
After draws with Twente and Porto, United really need to start picking up victories.
Mourinho would no doubt love to throw a spanner in the works though as we come up to six years since his United departure.
Mourinho already finds himself under some pressure at Fenerbahce after already slipping eight points behind rivals Galatasaray.
Fenerbahce do still have a game in hand but they were only able to draw 2-2 at Samsunspor on Sunday.
Mourinho has now suffered a major blow with defender Jayden Oosterwolde and winger Cengiz Under suffering injuries.
Oosterwolde was taken off injured against Samsunspor but Under wasn’t even included in the squad due to a groin problem.
Fenerbahce have now confirmed that Under has a groin tear whilst Oosterwolde has a much more serious injury having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.
Both players have now started treatment and rehabilitation but will ultimately miss Thursday’s clash against United.
“MRI scans were performed at Altunizade Hospital and a partial tear was detected in the right groin muscle tendon junction of our players, Cengiz Ünder, and a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee of Jayden Oosterwolde. The treatment and rehabilitation process of our players has begun,” they wrote.
Mourinho can still call on two ex-United players
That is terrible news for Mourinho, though Oosterwolde is the bigger blow given the length of his injury and his greater importance in the Fenerbahce side.
Losing both players is not the news Mourinho wanted but he will be looking to cause something of an upset on Thursday night regardless.
Mourinho can call on two former United players to aid his revenge bid this week.
Fred remains a key part of the Fenerbahce midfield having joined from United in the summer of 2023.
The Brazilian has impressed in Turkiye, hitting six goals and 11 assists in 45 appearances for the club.
Fred’s midfield partner is likely to be Sofyan Amrabat after Fenerbahce agreed a late deal for the Moroccan before the window closed.
Amrabat spent last season on loan at United and will now come up against Ten Hag – one of his biggest admirers – on Thursday night.
United know both players very, very well and be looking to secure a big victory before heading to West Ham United at the weekend.
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