Man Utd’s Manuel Ugarte in doubt to face Brentford after suffering knock vs Ecuador
The nature of his injury remains unclear, but it raises concerns over his availability for Saturday’s clash at Old Trafford.
Ahead of his side’s FA Cup final clash with Chelsea, Manchester United defender Phil Jones has declared that no matter how successful the Red Devils are, they will always have their detractors.
“I really don’t think we’re far away. We’ll always have our critics because we’re Man United, but it shows that we’re moving in the right direction under him (Jose Mourinho),” Jones, who has made the cut for Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, insisted.
United have, like all other sides in the Premier League, been left trailing in Manchester City’s wake this season.
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And while they did manage to finish second, most critics felt that considering the club’s stature and significant dealings in the transfer market, second best is simply not good enough.
“I think finishing second and winning the FA Cup probably would be satisfactory, but we always want to win more.”
Europe didn’t bring much joy either, with United getting knocked out by a plucky Sevilla side, leaving a majority of the Red Devils faithful disgruntled as a result.
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“This club is so used to winning things. It is part of the history of this club. We cannot stand still. We can’t just let the FA Cup final pass,” the centre-back added.
Under Jose Mourinho, United have transformed into a functional side that rarely dazzle, despite the plethora of stars at their disposal, much to the chagrin of their fans.
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However, as Jones points out, the results (Europa League and EFL Cup double in Mourinho’s first season and a best Premier League finish in the post-SAF finish along with a FA Cup final appearance in his second season) are undeniable and the Red Devils have improved under the Portuguese.
The FA Cup final kicks off on Saturday, 21.45 IST.
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