{"id":1228560,"date":"2021-10-13T10:46:42","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T09:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1228560"},"modified":"2021-10-13T10:46:42","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T09:46:42","slug":"man-utd-centre-back-problems-varane-maguire-injured","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-problems-varane-maguire-injured\/","title":{"rendered":"No Varane? No Maguire? Big Problem! How can Manchester United cope without their star centre-backs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester United have a big problem, and no it’s not their upcoming brutal run of fixtures.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, it’s not only<\/em> their upcoming run of fixtures. Yes, in addition to United’s brutal gauntlet of games that includes them visiting Leicester City, Atalanta and Tottenham Hotspur plus a mega home tie against Manchester City; they have another problem, or problems, depending on how you look at it.<\/p>\n

The problems are Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, their starting centre-backs.<\/p>\n

They’re both injured.<\/p>\n

Maguire left the field injured during United’s 1-0 home defeat against Aston Villa with a calf injury that was said to keep him out for a few weeks. With Leicester looming on the horizon there is still no timescale on his return.<\/p>\n

Then Varane, United’s big defensive signing and their top-performing centre-back so far this season, left France’s Nations League final early with an injury. United have released a statement confirming that<\/a> \u201che will be out for a few weeks.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rapha\u00ebl Varane has been forced off after 42 minutes in the Nations League final.<\/p>\n

Man Utd's other first-choice centre-back Harry Maguire is also currently out injured. ? pic.twitter.com\/6kEsQlc0hZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) October 10, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n