Jose Mourinho reveals Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly could return at the end of the month… but it might be longer for Marouane Fellaini
The Manchester United boss is hoping that the pair will return for United's Champions League clash against Seville
Sponsored by
MANCHESTER UNITED hope to welcome back Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly at the end of the month.
Jose Mourinho revealed that Marouane Fellaini could endure up to five weeks on the sidelines after being forced off the field against Tottenham.
Ibrahimovic returned too early from a serious knee injury and has now been out of action since Boxing Day.
Bailly has not played for Mourinho's side since the start of November after suffering with an ankle injury.
During a press conference on Friday, Mourinho said: "They are working on the pitch but not yet with us as a group so they are not very close a return.
"I want to believe that by Champions League time, around the end of the month, they will be back."
Meanwhile Mourinho declared that Fellaini could be back within a few weeks after limping off with a knee problem at Spurs.
He said: “I don't think the news is very good, he has a problem in his knee.
PAUL YOURS Pogba marks sixth anniversary of Man Utd debut and vows to 'come back stronger'
“It is the same knee but not the same area. It was internal and now external, so let's wait a couple of more days.
“It is not an ACL, a complete rupture of any structure of the knee, we are not going so far as that but we need him.
“Champions League is arriving and lots of tough matches to play and probably we are going to lose for a few weeks. Two, three four or five, I cannot say at the moment.”
The United boss has called for his players to honour the 60th anniversary of the Munich disaster with a top performance before a packed Old Trafford.
The anniversary falls on Tuesday but the club will observe a minutes silence before kick-off against Huddersfield tomorrow.
And Mourinho said: “This is something that is part of my life, or part of my football culture before I became Manchester United manager because it was such a tragedy that stayed in these last 60 years.
“So as Manchester United manager, it obviously means much more but I think it belongs to every sportsman as one of the biggest tragedies.
“At the same time it was a crucial point in Manchester United’s history; the reaction, the strength, the union after that situation.
“I think tomorrow is an amazing day to show the respect, to show the passion for the club, respect for them, the families and I think it is a day to play well.
“Iis a day to bring happiness, to bring joy for people, to be together, enjoying their colours and at the same time with showing all the respect for the people and the families.”
