Cristiano Ronaldo will play no part in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The Manchester United forward misses out on the game against Manchester City due to a hip flexor injury according to reports. Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw were also ruled out for United as the pair have tested positive for Covid-19. Man City meanwhile are without defender Ruben Dias who could miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Man United and Man City teams for derby game.
Ralf Rangnick brought Harry Maguire into the team to replace Varane while Jadon Sancho replaces Ronaldo from the goalless draw with Watford last weekend. Scott McTominay comes into the side for Nemanja Matic. Marcus Rashford was expected to start ahead of the Portuguese forward but he is on the bench with Anthony Elanga seemingly set to start up front. There were rumours on social media that Ronaldo was fit but had been dropped from the squad by Rangnick due to tactical concerns. However these rumours appear to be unfounded.
The 37-year-old has a hip injury and had to be driven home from training on Friday according to Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst. Rangnick confirmed this ahead of kick-off saying Cristiano had some problems with his hip flexor again on Friday. However speaking on Sky Sports Roy Keane was unconvinced by the reason offered for Ronaldos absence. There seems to be more to the Ronaldo story when a manager comes out and talks about a hip flexor Keane said. I dont get it. We talk about Ronaldo being some sort of machine and very rarely injured but every now and again he comes out with that... A hip flexor? It doesnt add up to me.
🗣 We talk about Ronaldo being a machine very rarely injured then every now and again he comes out with hip flexor it doesnt add up to me. Roy Keane questions the exclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo from the Man United team pic.twitter.com1WuYGB2ObG Of Man Uniteds outfield players only Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire have played more first-team minutes this season than Ronaldo 1834. And following a difficult winter on the pitch and a congested fixture list it is probably no surprise that the former Real Madrid forward has picked up a muscle injury.
Ronaldo is Man Uniteds top goalscorer this season with 15 goals in 30 games. Here is the Red Devils team for the match David de Gea Aaron Wan-Bissaka Victor Lindelof Maguire Alex Telles Scott McTominay Fred Jadon Sancho Bruno Fernandes Paul Pogba Anthony Elanga. Man City team for Manchester derby. Meanwhile Pep Guardiola has made three changes to the Man City team for Sundays derby. Kyle Walker Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez come into the team to replace Dias Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan. Here is the Man City team for the game Ederson Kyle Walker John Stones Aymeric Laporte Joao Cancelo Kevin De Bruyne Rodri Jack Grealish Riyad Mahrez Bernardo Silva Phil Foden. In the last five Manchester derbies both sides have won two games each.
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