Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling will start at the heart of the defence for the Champions League opener against FC Basel. The Red Devils have made a perfect start to the new season with nine points from three games, but the international break have put a halt on their lead at the top.
United are back in the Champions League after a year’s absence and Mourinho has revealed that both Lindelof and Smalling are guaranteed starters versus Basel on September 12, he said: “Against Basel, Jones and Eric are both suspended so we will play Victor and Smalling and there will be no problem at all. “The squad is good and the mentality of the players is very good.”
Preferably, Mourinho will have used Eric Bailly and Phil Jones in central defence only to their sublime start in the league this term, but the manager has been forced into making changes due to pair’s respective European bans.
Lindelof has not featured for the Red Devils since the 2-1 European Cup loss to Real Madrid earlier this month, and the Swede is set to make his debut at the Theatre of Dreams versus Basel. Smalling has also been a regular on the bench in the Premier League, and he could seize the opportunity to put in a solid performance alongside United’s summer signing.
Be the first to comment