Jose Mourinho says he will rest players for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Arsenal as he prioritises Manchester United’s Europa League semifinal against Celta Vigo.
Winning the tournament will confirm a spot in the Champions League, and it looks a more probable route than the Premier League, where United lies fifth, locked in a battle with Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal for the top four
United’s 1-0 first-leg win at Celta Vigo on Thursday makes it a favourite for the return tie next week, a position Mourinho appreciates.
“In this moment the Europa League becomes even more important for us,” he said. “The Premier League, I think, it’s too late. In April we played nine matches, seven of them in the Premier, and we had too many problems, too many players absent.
“Because of that we had many playing 750-800 minutes and we paid the price. The players that have accumulated lots of minutes are not going to play next weekend.”
One of those who might be rested is Marcus Rashford, who has been excellent since stepping in for the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic as lead striker. “He’s a kid but a kid in love with football,” said Mourinho. “He is a kid who finishes a training session and stays half an hour more every day to take free-kicks.”
The 19-year-old prodigy’s pace on the counter has suited United, but the hard-running style has taken a toll. Rashford hobbled off after his goal against Celta and Mourinho said he had gone into the game less than 100 per cent.
However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger isn’t viewing an injury-depleted United as “there for the taking”. His side has struggled in the latter half of the season after an eye-catching first few months, and the defeats have created a poisonous atmosphere around the Emirates. Arsenal, moreover, faltered against a weakened United last season, a match in which Rashford first served notice of his potential.
“We focus on our performance,” said Wenger. “We can’t speculate on any weakness of Manchester United. We know anyway that they have a massive squad with quality players. No matter who plays, they will have a strong team out. Only a top-level performance will get us the win we want.”
The game represents Arsenal’s second major challenge in a week after Sunday’s North London Derby. The defeat to Tottenham Hotspur intensified questions about Wenger’s future in the press; another, against his most bitter rival Mourinho, will only make matters worse.
