Man United team news: Jose Mourinho confirms plans to drop defender after City loss, says it’s “simple”

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that Luke Shaw has been dropped from the team going into the opening Europa League group stage clash against Feyenoord.

Shaw started against Manchester City in the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford over the weekend but has been axed and replaced by Marcos Rojo going into tonight’s game in Rotterdam.

Mourinho was asked at his press conference whether the fact that tonight’s clash coincides with the one-year anniversary of Shaw breaking his leg during a Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven played a role in the defender not making the trip.

The Portuguese manager denied the rumours and revealed the reason for picking Rojo ahead of Shaw was simple – he’s a ‘very good player’.

Mourinho was quoted on the official United website as saying: “The decision was not made thinking about that negative episode. The reason is simple – Marcos Rojo is a very good player who is working really well, working hard. My option in the last four games in the Premier League was Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke and I think it is time for Marcos to play, so it was a simple decision.”

Other Man United team news revealed by Mourinho included Wayne Rooney being omitted from the squad and Antonio Valencia, Jesse Lingard as well as summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan being left out of the match day squad.

Follow Emre Sarigul @Turkish_Futbol

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