Football
06th Mar 2022
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.
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.
Confirmed Varane and Shaw have Covid. Ronaldo has a hip injury (which caused him to miss two games last month). Ronaldo was driven home after training on Friday. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) March 6, 2022
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 Ronaldo’s absence.
“There seems to be more to the Ronaldo story when a manager comes out and talks about a hip flexor,” Keane said.
“I don’t 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 doesn’t 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 doesn't add up to me."
Roy Keane questions the exclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo from the Man United team pic.twitter.com/1WuYGB2ObG
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 6, 2022
Of Man United’s outfield players, only Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire have played more first-team minutes this season than Ronaldo (1,834).
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 United’s 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.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has made three changes to the Man City team for Sunday’s 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.
