An explanation for the absence of star man Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United’s squad to face Aston Villa this evening has been provided.
Cup clash
The final fixture of the FA Cup’s 3rd-round is of course set to play out in short order.
The matchup in question has seen the aforementioned Man United welcome long-time foe Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa to Old Trafford, for a highly-anticipated showdown.
Visitors United, for their part, will no doubt head into the evening’s action desperate for a bounce-back result.
This comes after the Red Devils came in for a deserved barrage of criticism, after slipping to an alarming 1-0 defeat at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring their side’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on January 03, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
CR7 misses out
The efforts of Ralf Rangnick’s men to secure a return to winning ways at the expense of Villa, however, will come with United unable to call on a pair of the club’s key performers.
The players in question? Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ralf’s Reds for tonight’s #FACup tie #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 10, 2022
Captain Maguire’s absence on Monday has not come as a huge surprise, with the English international having been forced to sit out versus Wolves, too, owing to injury.
The matchday omission of talisman Ronaldo, on the other hand, has come as nothing short of a shock.
Speaking to the media ahead of the action getting underway at Old Trafford, Ralf Rangnick was therefore inevitably drawn on the whereabouts of his prolific frontman.
And the Red Devils boss went on to reveal that Ronaldo’s absence has come as a result of a ‘minor muscle problem’:
Ronaldo omitted from squad due to a “minor muscle problem” according to Rangnick #mufc
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) January 10, 2022
*Update* – An explanation has since been provided for both Jadon Sancho and Phil Jones missing out versus Villa, too:
Phil Jones has a calf problem and Sancho tightness in his hamstrings according to Rangnick #mufc
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) January 10, 2022
Manchester United vs Aston Villa live streaming: Watch FA Cup online
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick makes David de Gea claim
