Six Manchester United players ruled out for Leeds United fixture
Antony and Anthony Martial are unavailable for Manchester United Premier League match against Leeds due to injury.
Martial will miss the 21st of United’s 35 games this season due to injury, Antony is unavailable, and Scott McTominay remains sidelined.
“They are not involved tomorrow,” United manager Erik ten Hag said when asked about Martial and McTominay. “And the same with Antony, also not available tomorrow, so we have to sort it out.”
Christian Eriksen is out until late April with an ankle injury, and Donny van de Beek will miss the remainder of the season.
In the absence of Anthony Martial, Wout Weghorst is expected to continue in the forward position, while Jadon Sancho could make his first start since October 22.
Marcel Sabitzer is likely to make his full debut in midfield against Crystal Palace, as Casemiro will serve the first of a three-match suspension for a red card against the Eagles.
Chris Armas, who was Ralf Rangnick’s assistant during his five-month tenure as interim United manager, is expected to be in the dugout. Leeds sacked Jesse Marsch as manager, and Chris Armas, who was Rangnick’s assistant during his five-month tenure as interim United manager, is expected to be in charge.
United have not lost to Leeds in the Premier League since September 2002, and they have beaten them 6-2, 5-1, and 4-2 in three of their four encounters since Leeds’ promotion in 2020.
Ten Hag is well-versed in the rivalry between United and Leeds. “It’s about the match of the Roses, it’s definitely a big game in this part of England. It’s a big game for us.
“We know we have Manchester City and Liverpool but for our fans this means so much and our players are aware of that and know what to do.
“It’s always sad if a manager, a colleague, gets sacked, so in general I don’t believe in it, that you sack a manager and get better results, most of the time it doesn’t work. Let the managers do their work, let them finish their work and then make a good evaluation.
“Obviously, the pressure is high with decision-makers at football clubs and they turn. But if you see the facts, if you see the stats, most of the time it doesn’t work out well.”
“We have to be aware of [Leeds possibly changing their style]. So when Jesse Marsch was in Leeds it was clear how they play, so the way of play, about system, about style. Now it’s possible they change, it’s also possible they don’t change. We will only find out on the pitch tomorrow.
“But we need good anticipation for that. We need better anticipation, for instance against Villa, the difference with them was when Emery came in and they had a week to prepare and now they don’t have so much time to prepare.
“So we will see but we need good anticipation and to be proactive.”
Six Manchester United players ruled out for Leeds United fixture
