Manchester United captain Maguire is feared to miss the UEFA Cup final at the Gdansk Stadium in Poland on May 26, with manager Solskjaer changing his earlier optimism that the situation is not ideal.
Harry (Maguire), we are trying to get him back but it doesn't look good. Solskjaer said before the match against Fulham. In the stands at Old Trafford, Maguire is still on crutches and wearing a protective boot, and I'm afraid I can only hope for a miracle if I can get rid of my crutches in a week and still be able to compete.
In response, Maguire himself said: basically, he (Villa player El Ghazi) fell and his weight was on me and I ended up twisting my ankle. It's not a muscle injury, it's very unfortunate and depressing. I was desperate that night, but I have accepted the reality. I have to be active, wait for the future, make sure I'm fully recovered before I come back, stay hungry and be able to continue what I've been doing. The UEFA Cup final is certainly exciting and I'm sure everyone wants to win it and maybe score the winning goal.
Manchester United star Gary Neville believes that the vast majority of the starting XI for the battle against Fulham will feature against Villarreal. Maguire's absence will pose an even greater danger to the Red Devils' already not 100% settled back four.
Maguire has no speed, but his header ability, fill-in awareness and forward passes and dribbling characteristics, in the team can not be replaced. 80 million pounds of iron defender absence of three games, Manchester United conceded 7 goals, of which 4 is the opponent through the side of the passes to create the opportunity, 3 is a set piece. And, Luke Shaw, who has been playing superbly this season, after no Maguire to fill in for him, the left side of the defense has also become an opening for opponents to attack.
There are only two candidates to replace Maguire, either Eric Baj or Tuanzebe. In between, Baye recently extended his new contract with United, but the Ivorian £30 million center back hasn't changed from the past, and not being able to settle is still one of his flaws, and his combination with Lindelof lacks the alpha and calmness to reassure the fans.
However, they are now the two most experienced center backs in the team apart from Maguire, and in a game of life and death like the UEFA Cup final, Solskjaer is afraid to dare to use youth trainee Tuanzebe, who is also now 24 years old but has played too few matches.
Villarreal have top scorer Gerard Moreno, who has scored 29 goals in 45 games this season, and with his ability to score left and right, as well as headers this season, the United defender cannot be ignored.
United's left and right wingbacks are starting without a doubt, with Luke Shaw and Wambiza sure to suit up as long as they're not injured. Ahead of them, the back four partnership of McTominay and Fred is also the preferred option right now.
Bruno Fernandes is unshakeable in the center, and to his left, Pogba will also secure a place in the starting lineup for the final, and center forward Cavani, regardless of Martial's smooth comeback, deserves to continue to make his debut in Poland, based on his play of nine goals in his last 10 matches, including scoring twice in both UEFA Cup semifinal rounds.
Aside from whether Maguire will return from injury, the other two positions in the United lineup that are in doubt are whether Rashford or Mason Greenwood will be on the right wing and whether De Gea or Dean Henderson will be used in goal.
However, the goalkeeper position may be only Solskjaer and the British media to force the speculation of the problem, in accordance with the current situation, as well as the semi-final round of 10 saves against Rome's heroic play, Spain's international goalkeeper De Gea is more qualified to play in the final. Whether he stays this summer or not, 10 years of effectiveness should win him the time given by Solskjaer in the final.
The Manchester Evening News reports that Solskjaer has now endorsed De Gea as a starter in the UEFA Cup final on the back of his recent superb play, while Henderson will have to accept his fate of playing the final round of the Premier League against Wolves.
Again, as it stands, Greenwood's goal-scoring prowess, and his play on the right side of the pitch, is superior to that of Rashford. On the right, Rashford has not been playing as well as he would have liked, and since playing with an injury, his condition has been unsatisfactory, scoring only one goal in his last nine matches.
Guess in the UEFA Cup final, Villarreal certainly will not start against Manchester United, and thus the competition situation is not in line with the preferred counterattack Rashford play.
I'm afraid it would have been better to have Rashford on the bench first and act as a tactical backstop for the second half. Merely, the England demon star is Solskjaer's number one favorite at United, and he has to put aside his personal preferences at crucial moments.
