Cristiano Ronaldo (left) says he is happy at Madrid, while Chris Smalling suffered injury last night |
NEWS NEWS BLOG SPORT brings you all the latest news from Old Trafford.
Manchester United have suffered fresh injury blows to two key players as the fall-out from their Champions League exit worsens.
United crashed out of the competition last night after losing 3-2 in Wolfsburg.
They will play in the Europa League knockout stage next year.
But United manager Louis van Gaal has more pressing concerns on his mind after confirming defenders Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmain suffered injuries in Germany.
"Matteo Darmian has a hamstring injury and Smalling probably a groin injury," he said.
"Smalling could not jump at the moment of the set plays and that goal [Wolfsburg's third] was also because of that."
United's exit from European football's elite club competition has also been noted by rivals Manchester City.
City progressed to the knockout stages with a 4-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach last night.
They escaped what many called 'The Group of Death', which also featured Juventus and Sevilla.
And City manager Manuel Pellegrini said it was bad for English football that United will not be joining his side in the last-16.
"It seems easy, but it is not. This was the Group of Death, the four best leagues in Europe," he said.
"I think the more teams we have in the next round is better for the Premier League and English football.
"So it is a pity for them (United) and not good for England."
In transfer news, former United star Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken out about his future.
Ronaldo is thought to be considering his options after six years at Real Madrid.
The 30-year-old scored four goals in Real's 8-0 Champions League win over Malmo last night.
But he insists he isn't thinking of leaving the Spanish capital, despite confirmed interest from United boss Louis van Gaal.
"Every year the same thing has happened. I am relaxed and I feel at home at a club which has helped me a great deal, and I am very happy here," he said.
"Everybody criticises a club like Real Madrid when things don't go right. But we are used to it. We're fine, on a good roll and we'll go on like this."
Ronaldo left United for Real in 2009 for a world record £80million.
He has broken numerous records in Spain and former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he did everything possible to keep the Portugal international at Old Trafford.
“I flew to Portugal to speak with him because he said that he wasn’t going to come back to England,” Ferguson said.
“He only wanted to go to Real Madrid, it was his lifelong dream.
“Once, he admitted to me that he wanted to retire when he is 35 but I told him that he could go on until he is a 40-year-old, [Ryan] Giggs quit when he was 41.”
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