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Manchester United Europa League Final Team News

All eyes on Maguire’s fitness level

Manchester United FC Training Session and Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2021 Photo by Chris Ricco - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

During his pre-match press conference, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer discussed his selection plans for Wednesday’s Europa League final with Villarreal, and unfortunately, it looks like skipper Harry Maguire won’t be fit in time.

Although not officially ruled out, Maguire didn't take part in United’s training session Tuesday morning. Earlier, Solskjaer said Maguire would “jog up and down the sideline” in training to test the injury but United’s captain sat in the stands all session.

Anthony Martial and Phil Jones did not travel with the squad to Poland due to injury, with the Norwegian facing some big selection decisions, including whether to start David De Gea or Dean Henderson in goal.

“It’s always difficult to leave players out, but it’s throughout the whole season,” Solskjaer said.

“A final is a reward for what you’ve done the whole season, then if there’s a doubt between a couple it’s the form in the latter stages, of course.

“But we’ll enjoy the last session and the players will get the team tomorrow.”

”I’ll tell the team, especially the subs that are not starting, you may have to play a big part for us,“ he added. ”As it’s happened before. Be disappointed, be angry with me but be ready when you come on. Whoever starts, make sure you enjoy it because you don’t play too many finals in your life.“

Bruno Fernandes could captain United should Maguire miss out, and is keen to lift his first silverware since joining from Sporting Lisbon 16 months ago.

“Trophies are part of this club,” said Fernandes. “The team is growing up, is improving a lot, and tomorrow will be signal also to more improvement.

“Losing is part of football and you can improve from that, but we want to improve from winning trophies.”