Sports

Slim hopes for Maguire to lead Man United against Villarreal

Villarreal, May 25 (EFE).- Underdogs Villarreal will face the most important game in its history in the Uefa Europa League final against favourites Manchester United, whose hopes of captain Harry Maguire recovering in time for Wednesday’s showdown in Gdansk, Poland are growing slimmer by the day.

Manchester United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he still hopes the centre back can be fit to play by Wednesday afternoon, but he will need to participate in training on Tuesday to be considered for the match squad.

Maguire will travel with the squad, despite not having fully recovered from an ankle ligament injury he sustained this month.

Meanwhile, Villarreal’s eyes are set on their first silverware in Europe under the management of Unai Emery, who has won the competition three times with Sevilla.

Villarreal will be playing in its first Europa League final, having only reached semifinals four times throughout its history.

Manchester United, who ended the season in second place in the Premier League, remain the firm favourites, boasting more experienced and higher profile players and a much larger budget.

Maguire’s expected absence is the only major bump in the Red Devils’ preparations, which can still count on the potent duo in attack of Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani, supported by Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba.

Villarreal’s Vicente Iborra will be missing, while Samu Chukwueze and Juan Foyth could be able to make the final team.

Expected line-ups:

Villarreal: Rulli, Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza, Capoue, Trigueros, Parejo, Gerard Moreno, Bacca, and Moi Gómez or Yeremi Pino.

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