Utd vs Spurs at 8:30 tonight: Rangnick provides fitness update on Ronaldo and Cavani
Football
By
Reuters
| Mar 12, 2022
Manchester United forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani are fit and available for Saturday's Premier League game at home to Tottenham Hotspur, manager Ralf Rangnick said on Friday.
Ronaldo did not play in the Manchester derby last weekend due to a hip injury while Cavani has not featured since early February due to a groin problem.
"Cristiano resumed training yesterday. He trained for the whole session and I expect him to be training today as well," Rangnick told a news conference.
"He trained well, like the rest of the group, so I would have thought that he's available for tomorrow. What's important is that he and Edi are both back in training and are both available for the game."
But left back Luke Shaw is out after testing positive for COVID-19 while midfielder Scott McTominay is a doubt, with Rangnick keeping one eye on next week's Champions League last-16 second leg at home to Atletico Madrid, with the tie at 1-1.
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"Scotty is a question mark, he had some problems with his calf so we have to wait and see until after training today," Rangnick added.
"Right now, it is more likely that he will not be available because if we risk him tomorrow, he will more likely be out for the game on Tuesday. That's why ... with muscular issues - even more so if it's the calf muscle - I tend to be careful."
United are looking to bounce back after losing 4-1 at Manchester City, which dropped Rangnick's side to fifth, a point behind Arsenal, but having played three games more, and two points ahead of Spurs who have two matches in hand.
Rangnick said Arsenal were favourites to finish fourth.
"They seem to be in the best possible position but there are still 10 games to play," he added. "We are fully aware we have to look after ourselves and not drop any more points."
Striker Marcus Rashford's form has also been a concern for United, with the 24-year-old scoring only five goals in all competitions this season. Rangnick wants the England forward to play in matches "on the same level he trains".
"Marcus is training well, he's got an abundance of talent, he's got almost everything you need for a modern striker," Rangnick said. "It's about transforming the performance of the training sessions into the regular games."