Assessing Manchester United’s Central Defensive Options for Europa League Final

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Manager Jose Mourinho of Manchester United speaks during a press conference at Old Trafford on May 10, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Manager Jose Mourinho of Manchester United speaks during a press conference at Old Trafford on May 10, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)
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Manchester United will be without Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo for the UEFA Europa League final against Ajax. With only two recognized senior central defenders in Phil Jones and Chris Smalling at his disposal, Jose Mourinho has a decision to make.

In the late stages of the UEL semi-final second leg at Old Trafford, Bailly was sent off for raising a hand against Celta Vigo’s John Guidetti. It’s such a shame to see Bailly miss United’s season-defining game at Stockholm, especially considering that he has arguably been United’s most consistent central defender over the course of the season. Having lost Marcos Rojo to a season-ending injury earlier in the season, United’s options are limited at the back. Here we run the rule over the players who are in contention to start at central defensive position in United’s final game of the season.