Manchester United’s woes continue to mount as they prepare for their midweek showdown against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
Erik ten Hag’s side has been dealt another blow with the news that key defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be sidelined due to injury.
The Premier League giants are set to kick off their 2023-24 UEFA Champions League campaign at the Allianz Arena, following a demoralizing 3-1 defeat to Brighton over the weekend. The loss highlighted not only their struggles in front of goal but also their defensive vulnerability.
Adding to their woes, Manchester United has now lost Aaron Wan-Bissaka to injury. The English right-back, who was on the bench during the Brighton defeat and made a late appearance as a substitute, was initially reported as being sidelined due to illness. However, it has since been confirmed that he sustained a hamstring injury late in the game.
Although the official statement from the club indicates that Wan-Bissaka will be out for “several weeks,” reports from The Athletic suggest that he could be facing an absence of up to two months. This injury compounds the ongoing injury crisis that Manchester United is grappling with.
Diogo Dalot, who has started the team’s last three games, albeit two of them in a left-back role, is expected to fill in for Wan-Bissaka. However, Ten Hag’s squad is already dealing with a shortage of players due to injuries to Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, and Raphael Varane.
Furthermore, Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Jadon Sancho, and Antony are also unavailable, although the latter two’s absences are not injury-related.
Manchester United’s recent form has been less than stellar, with losses in three of their first five games this season. The upcoming clash against Bayern Munich, who recently drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen, presents a daunting challenge for Ten Hag’s side as they seek to reverse their fortunes.