Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says Marouane Fellaini was “lucky” to avoid serious injury following a challenge from Shane Long against Southampton.
Fellaini has been ruled out of the Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow on Wednesday after suffering an ankle injury following Long’s challenge in the first half of United’s 1-0 win at St Mary’s on Saturday. Mourinho is also without Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick to further reduce his options in midfield.
But the United boss says Fellaini’s injury could have been much worse – although he does not blame referee Craig Pawson for only showing Long a yellow card.
“For me Craig Pawson is one of the big talents in refereeing in England,” Mourinho told a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday. "He had an amazing game in my opinion. He was so calm and in control and I think he had a great performance.
"After I watch it on television, no camera for Craig, and he made that decision. Fellaini was lucky, it could be a much worse situation but in a moment when we don’t have Pogba and Carrick, Marouane becomes even more important than he always is. For him not to be here is a difficult situation for us.
“We don’t have Fellaini, we don’t have Pogba, we don’t have Carrick. So all three midfield players we lose for this match. The solutions are not many but we try not to focus on individual battles or specific areas of the pitch. We are going to have a team with quality, with balance and to try to win the match which is our objective.”
Fellaini is also set to miss Crystal Palace’s visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday before the two-week international break, with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool following on Oct. 14.
Belgium have already qualified for the World Cup in Russia next summer, and Mourinho has suggested coach Roberto Martinez should consider omitting Fellaini from the squad to play Bosnia on Oct. 7 and Cyprus on Oct. 10.
He added: “I don’t expect Fellaini to be out for a long time and after Crystal Palace there is the international break, and Belgium, I think, was the first team to qualify, so not under pressure for a special big match. Hopefully he will be back for us.”
Mourinho will be without Fellaini against Palace, but he will be allowed on the touchline after the Football Associated decided not to take further action against him following his sending off against Southampton for encroaching on the pitch.
Mourinho said: “If I am not punished it is because there were no reasons for the sending off so I am happy that was recognised and I can be doing my work normally against Crystal Palace. That is enough for me.”
Like United, CSKA got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start with an impressive victory over Benfica.
Mourinho has faced CSKA during spells in charge of Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid and says United will not have it all their own way at the VEB Arena.
He said: “I always like to be back here because it is a beautiful city – every time I come it’s better and better – so I have to say that it’s a pleasure. Opponents-wise, I think it’s the best CSKA side that I will have faced.”
Rob is ESPN FC’s Manchester United correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @RobDawsonESPN.
Junior Season Ticket holders and Junior Members – including any new ones – could be walking out with the first-team for the trip to Anfield on Saturday 18th November.
All you need to do for a chance to win this incredible opportunity is fill out our online application form and you will be entered into the draw, with one lucky youngster being picked at random for each of the matches.
The draw is open to Junior Season Ticket holders and Junior Members aged five to 14, although ages at each away club do vary. The closing date is Monday 2nd October.
Each winner will receive one free adult and one free junior ticket to the match, as well as an away kit to wear on the day.
If your child is not already a Junior Member, they can sign up here for just £15, with each youngster receiving an enhanced membership pack this season, including free gifts and a fixture poster, and exclusive mailings throughout the campaign.
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Gareth Southgate is facing a midfield crisis as the England manager prepares to name his squad for the final two decisive World Cup qualifiers - which could see a call-up for James Ward-Prowse.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Nathaniel Chalobah – who made the last squad – will undergo knee surgery and will be out until at least December while Southgate is already resigned to not having Dele Alli for the fixtures against Slovenia, at home, and probably Lithuania, away, as a result of his obscene gesture in the recent 2-1 win over Slovakia.
The Football Association will be informed on Thursday – the day of Southgate’s squad announcement – of the punishment Alli will receive from Fifa with the predictions ranging from a one match to, possibly, even a three-match ban.
If it is the latter then it would be particularly damaging as it would rule Alli out of the first group game in Russia next summer should England, who need a win - although probably a draw will be enough - qualify. The expectation is that it will be a one or two-match ban for Alli.