May 19th 2024.
It was announced that Varane will be leaving the club at the end of the season, which was met with mixed emotions from the fans at Old Trafford. But, on a positive note, Manchester United's defensive struggles seem to be easing just in time for the FA Cup final against Manchester City. As they prepare to face Brighton in their last Premier League match of the season, the team is feeling more confident with their recent performances.
Erik ten Hag's team currently sits in eighth place but still has a chance to secure a spot in Europe on the final day of the season. In the past three games, Casemiro and Jonny Evans have been the main pairing at the heart of the defense. However, Lisandro Martinez made a long-awaited return in Wednesday night's 3-2 victory over Newcastle and is expected to start in today's match at the AMEX Stadium.
Last night, the fans bid farewell to Raphael Varane, but there is still hope that he will make an appearance in the last two games of the season. He has returned to training this week, along with Victor Lindelof, who is also expected to be available for the final. Unfortunately, the trip to Brighton may come too soon for Harry Maguire to play, but the team is hopeful that he will be ready for the final.
Ten Hag was hoping to give Luke Shaw some playing time before the City game, but the left-back suffered a minor setback in training last week. It is unlikely that he will be fit for the final, with ten Hag admitting that he has a "small chance" of playing. On the other hand, Martinez made his return from injury midweek, while Mason Mount suffered another setback heading into last weekend's game with Arsenal.
But, there is some good news for the team as well. Bruno Fernandes, who missed two games due to injury, returned with a captain's performance against Newcastle United on Wednesday. Amad Diallo also had a strong performance, making a case for a regular spot in the first team with a superb goal in the second half. In addition, Marcus Rashford made his first appearance since the FA Cup semi-final win over Coventry City, coming off the bench.
Anthony Martial has also returned to training, but this Sunday's match may be his last chance to make an appearance in the Premier League before his departure this summer. Ten Hag will provide further updates in the team's final Premier League press conference on Friday. As for the predicted starting lineup against Brighton, it is likely to include Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Martinez, Dalot, Armrabat, Mainoo, Fernandes, Amad, Hojlund, and Garnacho.
For those wondering about the kick-off time for the Brighton vs Man Utd match, it is scheduled for 4pm BST on Sunday. All 20 teams will be playing at the same time on the final day of the season. And as always, fans can stay updated on all the latest Manchester United news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for the email newsletter and reading the privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
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