Manchester United’s Europa League semi-final opponents Roma have one big injury concern ahead of this Thursday’s first leg.
The player set to miss the tie is one who United don’t have fond memories of.
Spanish veteran Pedro, 33, is best remembered for scoring the opening goal for Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League final win at Wembley against Sir Alex Ferguson’s United.
United’s official website reports Pedro ‘is likely to be absent through injury’.
He played in both matches of the quarter-final against Ajax, one as a starter and the other from the bench.
He provided an assist in the win over Torino on April 18, but then missed Roma’s game against Cagliari at the weekend.
TMW reported yesterday that Pedro was only training individually, away from his teammates.
Pedro has five goals and three assists this season, and while not prolific, he is the type of experienced big game player who can be a threat in these matches, as United found out a decade ago.
He also scored against United in the first minute in 2016 in a 4-0 win for Chelsea against a flat Jose Mourinho Red Devils side.
Smalling could play
One of Manchester United’s defenders in 2011 at Wembley was Pedro’s current Roma teammate Chris Smalling.
Smalling made his return from injury at the weekend, having started just one game since the end of January, which came in early March.
Smalling played an hour as Roma lost 3-2 to Cagliari, but should be fit enough to play against United.
Roma are without defender Gianluca Mancini, due to suspension. The 25-year-old has played 36 games for Roma so far this season and could be a big miss at Old Trafford.
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