Harry Maguire will miss the Chelsea game as Manchester United's defensive worries mount after the defeat to Leeds on Monday.
Harry Maguire will miss the Chelsea game as Manchester United's defensive worries mount after the defeat to Leeds on Monday.
James Ducker
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Harry Maguire will be suspended for Manchester United’s crucial clash at Chelsea on Saturday in a fresh defensive blow for manager Michael Carrick.
The England defender has been given a one-match ban and a fine after the Football Association ruled that he swore at fourth official Matt Donohue following his sending off at Bournemouth last month.
Maguire missed Monday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds through suspension for that red card but will now serve an additional one-game ban after being found guilty of acting improperly towards Donohue, ruling him out of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
His absence is particularly poorly time for United with Lisandro Martinez facing a three-match ban for violent conduct after being sent off against Leeds for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail.
United are appealing Martinez’s red card but it is thought that there is little hope of the red card being overturned.
Michael Carrick branded the decision “absolutely shocking” and “one of the worst I’ve seen” and the feeling internally is that it was a “ridiculous” call from the VAR John Brook to direct Paul Tierney to the pitchside monitor and for the referee to brandish a red card.
With United’s other main centre-back Matthijs de Ligt still out with a back complaint that has sidelined him since November, Carrick could be forced to pair youngsters Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven − who have a combined age of 39 − in central defence.
Kobbie Mainoo also missed the Leeds game through injury and it remains to be seen if the England midfielder is fit enough to face Chelsea.
United, in third, are currently seven points clear of Chelsea and victory would see them open a 10-point gap to the team currently occupying sixth spot, outside the five Champions League positions.
But that gap will be reduced to four points should United lose so the game is huge in the context of both clubs’ pursuit of Champions League football next season and Carrick will likely have to navigate it without several key defenders.
The Martinez episode was the latest in a series of decisions that United feel have gone against them this season.
The club lodged a formal complaint with the PGMOL, the referees’ governing body, last month after finally running out of patience in the wake of a controversial 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
Old Trafford officials were furious that referee Stuart Attwell refused to award Amad Diallo a penalty, moments before Ryan Christie scored for Bournemouth, when Amad appeared to have his shirt pulled by Adrien Truffert but Attwell and the VAR did not give a foul.