Jose Mourinho believes tonight’s Europa League Group J clash with Ludogorets will go ahead as planned despite the Bulgarian side’s Covid-19 issues.
Reports claimed that the game could be postponed or Ludogorets, who had up to 12 positive cases two weeks ago, may forfeit the match if they couldn’t rustle up 13 fit players.
But Mourinho says: “My information is that it’s not true. That was after our game [three weeks ago]. Since then they have recovered.
“They are missing two players but have recovered nine players.”
Mourinho has injury problems of his own to worry about as he looks for a win that will keep his Premier League leaders at the top of their pool.
While rightback Matt Doherty returns from Covid quarantine, centreback Toby Alderweireld looks set for two to four weeks out with a hamstring problem picked up in Saturday’s 2-0 over Manchester City.
Discussing his options to partner Eric Dier in the heart of defence, Mourinho says: “We have Davinson [Sanchez] for [tonight] and then Davinson and Joe [Rodon] for Sunday.”
Meanwhile, wins for Premier League rivals Arsenal against Molde and Leicester at Braga will see them advance to the knockout stage.