Manchester United Give Updates On Team, Edinson Cavani Ahead Of Atletico Madrid Clash
Edinson Cavani will be absent again for Manchester United’s Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid.
Cavani has missed the last three games with a groin injury and also had a stomach problem before Sunday’s Premier League victory at Leeds.
“No, Edi will not be able to make the trip,” interim United manager Ralf Rangnick confirmed. “He didn’t train, he has not been training the last couple of weeks, so he won’t be part of the group.
“He has problems with his groin and as long as he does not feel able to fully sprint, it doesn’t make sense to train him and to force him back into training. He’s got enough experience by himself to know when he’s fully available again.”
United went out of the Champions League at the group stage last season and have only reached the quarter-finals twice since they lost to Barcelona in the 2011 final at Wembley.
Atletico is Spanish champions but fifth in La Liga and lost at home to basement side Levante last week.
With United four points clear in fourth in the Premier League and little chance of winning the Champions League, there have been some suggestions they might have to prioritize their domestic form, but Rangnick dismissed the notion the Champions League could be a distraction.
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