Imanol Alguacil, Head Coach of Real Sociedad, gestures during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Sociedad de Futbol and Manchester United at Reale Arena on March 06, 2025 in San Sebastian, Spain.Imanol Alguacil, Head Coach of Real Sociedad, gestures during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Sociedad de Futbol and Manchester United at Reale Arena on March 06, 2025 in San Sebastian, Spain.
Imanol Alguacil, Head Coach of Real Sociedad, gestures during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Sociedad de Futbol and Manchester United at Reale Arena on March 06, 2025 in San Sebastian, Spain. | Getty Images
Real Sociedad have been handed a surprise injury blow ahead of their visit to Manchester United
Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguaci has revealed that Luka Sucic is unavailable for Thursday’s Europa League clash at Manchester United in an injury blow that has caught him by surprise.
The sides are locked at 1-1 after the first leg in Spain last week, with Joshua Zirkzee bouncing back from his penalty shootout miss against Fulham in the FA Cup to score for the Red Devils but the visitors were pegged back by Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty with 20 minutes remain.
United are the favourites to progress into the last eight as they seek to use the Europa League as a route into the Champions League next season. However, the tie remains on a knife edge with Ruben Amorim facing a number of injury problems ahead of the game. The United boss will have a few decisions to make in regards to his line-up with two young players drafted into the club’s Europa League squad.
Sucic ruled out for Sociedad
Sucic started the first leg in Spain last week before being replaced by Jon Ander Olasagasti after 88 minutes. He was then left out of the Sociedad squad as they lost 1-0 to Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday afternoon.
Despite his absence for the La Liga clash, Alguacil had hoped to have the player back. The Sociedad boss said: “We thought he would be in the squad, but then he told me he couldn’t and he couldn’t make it. It was a surprise. He will try to recover as soon as possible.”
Star midfielder Martin Zubimendi missed the first leg but is poised to feature at Old Trafford as he came off the bench against Sevilla over the weekend. The midfielder has been linked with a £51m move to Arsenal this summer after rejecting the chance to join United’s Premier League rivals in August.
Alguaci analyses United threat
After his side managed a draw against United in the first leg, Alguaci believes his team will have chances to score at Old Trafford. He said: “I’m not one of those who thinks we have nothing to lose. Yes, we have a lot to lose tomorrow, which is to be in the quarter finals. It’s a huge game. They want to be in the quarters. They dream as well same as we do. The game at home was close. I think right now we are still in the tie, alive in the tie and I certainly think we have chances tomorrow.”
He added: “Nobody talks about Sociedad. That’s what it’s like. We are used to that, Man United are a massive club. Tomorrow I’m convinced that they will be really going into it trying to win like we are. We will see a team which is super competitive, nothing surprised me how they played last week. Their way of competing, the way they do in the Premier League.
“Fantastic team, great players, well coached. Arsenal couldn’t win here so that means this team works well and performs well. In the Premier League they’ve not had the best results but I’ve seen matches where their performances have deserved more.”
In other news, Manchester United have reportedly made an early offer for a Barcelona defender as they look to get a head-start with their summer transfer plans.