by MANCHESTER — Manchester United head into Tuesday’s Champions League last-16, second leg tie against Sevilla at Old Trafford with injury concerns, but manager Jose Mourinho remains optimistic.
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Big on the list is the availability of star midfielder Paul Pogba, who remains uncertain for the clash.
Pogba missed Saturday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool in the English Premier League because of a “minor” injury he picked up while training at the Aon Training Complex on Friday.
The France international apparently sat out training on Monday morning, but was confirmed to have practiced in the later session by Mourinho during his pre-match press conference.
“He did [train] after you left,” Mourinho told the press.
The Manchester United boss was then asked if Pogba could face Sevilla.
He said: “I don’t know. We don’t know yet, but he trained a little bit after you left.”
Manchester United will also be without defenders Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, while midfielder Ander Herrera remains unavailable due to injury.
Meanwhile, forward Anthony Martial, who missed the weekend’s victory over Liverpool is fit again and is available to face the La Liga side.
Experienced forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was pictured training with the group on Monday morning and could be on the bench for Tuesday’s game.
The Swedish striker has been working hard to regain his fitness, since making his last Manchester United appearance in the 2-2 draw against Burnley on Boxing Day.
Manchester United and Sevilla played to a goalless draw in the first leg match in Andalucia three-weeks-ago.
Mourinho thinks that anything is possible if his side can navigate through this round.
“I think when a team arrives in the last eight, anything can happen. I think when you are in the last 16, it looks really, really far,” the Red Devils manager said.
“But when a team gets in the last eight, you start smelling semi-finals and I think when a team gets into the last eight, the feeling is, of course, you are among the best. But anything can happen, so let’s see what happens.”
He added: “I don’t feel that we have any advantage in this moment. We are going to try to prove that we are better [than the first leg] and to try to win the match.
“But the reality in this moment is that we have no advantage at all.”
