Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed that defensive due Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling have both picked up injures during Tuesday night’s Champions League defeat to Wolfsburg, the Daily Express reports.
The Red Devils crashed out of the competition and into the Europa League, but their injury crisis is showing no signs of slowing down.
Darmian (hamstring) was substituted just before the half time break, while Smalling (groin) picked up a knock late on.
Van Gaal was forced to make three early changes in the game, and has now been forced to watch his injury list grow with the likes of Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin and Wayne Rooney already missing.
“Matteo Darmian has a hamstring injury and Smalling probably a groin injury,” Van Gaal said.
“Smalling could not jump at the moment of the set plays and that goal [Wolfsburg’s third] was also because of that.
“He had to give it [defensive responsibility] to another player and that’s always a question of communication and quality.
“With Naldo [who scored twice], we knew in advance that he was a very important header for them.”
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