Manchester United face AC Milan on Thursday in a game which could go some way to defining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time at the club.
United are facing a mini-injury crisis with a potential shortage of strikers with Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani both missing the recent Premier League game against West Ham. What’s more worrying for United fans is the fact that both Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes seemed to be carrying knocks as they left the Old Trafford field on Sunday.
United know from the previous encounter with AC Milan which saw the Italians snatch a draw with a late equaliser, leaving the Europa League tie very much in the balance.
It’s not that Milan don’t have their own injury problems, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic amongst several players who should be unavailable for Stefano Pioli’s men.
The decision facing Solskjaer is does he risk the likes of Rashford and Fernandes is neither are 100% does he risk them for the Europa League and face the prospect of them being unfit for the FA Cup quarter final against high-flying Leicester City on Sunday?
Whatever the United manager decides to do, this week is going to be huge for him and should he exit both remaining cup competitions or even one of them, then he may face questions about his long term credentials.
Many United fans can see the progress that United have made under Solskjaer and the fact the Reds are second in the league, after finishing third last season, should give the manager enough credit with the powers that be to see him carrying the club forward, for at least this season and the next.