Team selections for Wolves and, after that, trips Bournemouth and Brentford, will be shaped by the fitness of their key men. Not a chance will be taken.
That, in turn could have a negative impact on results, which haven’t been great to start with. United’s current 14th-place might get even worse, with the accompanying loss of Premier League prize money – approximately £3m a place.
It just heightens the feeling of a game of roulette. If United win the Europa League, they qualify for the Champions League and pocket tens of millions of pounds. If they don’t, they will have even less than they thought to work with.
On the plus side, what the monumental ending to this contest provided is proof that United’s players are up for a fight. They have character in abundance, have inherited the club’s ‘never say die’ DNA and are willing to give everything for the cause.
But the negatives will not go away.
They keep giving away poor goals, often following each other in the space of a few minutes.
They do not take their chances. Had Alejandro Garnacho or Patrick Dorgu done that in the second half when the score was 2-0, the nerve-jangling, head-splitting, chaotic ending would not have been required.
The flaws are capable of undermining any improvement, at any moment. There is no point at which United can be trusted not to throw a winning position away.
It just heightens the sense of risk.
