Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil has confirmed he will be without Luka Sucic for the clash with Manchester United on Thursday, which he admitted has taken him by surprise.
Alguacil brings his team to Old Trafford for the second leg of their Europa League last 16 tie after the sides could not be separated in Spain last week.
Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the first leg but a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty levelled things up and the match finished 1-1.
The Premier League side will be favourites to progress to the quarter-finals with the second leg at home, but clearly the tie is still in the balance.
Real Sociedad have not been helped by the injury news from Croatia international Sucic, though, who has ruled himself out of the game due to a knee problem.
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The 22-year-old started the first leg in midfield, but will not be involved in Manchester.
‘We thought he would be in the squad, but then he told me he couldn’t and he couldn’t make it,’ said Alguacil. ‘It was a surprise. He will try to recover as soon as possible.’
Alguacil’s side are not in great form, with three defeats in their last four outings and the Manchester United draw their only bright spot.
Sitting 11th in La Liga, the manager knows that the chance to knock Manchester United out of European competition is a huge opportunity for the club.
‘I’m not one of those who thinks we have nothing to lose. Yes, we have a lot to lose tomorrow, which is to be in the quarterfinals,’ he said.
‘It’s a huge game. They want to be in the quarters. They dream as well same as we do.
‘The game at home was close. I think right now we are still in the tie, alive in the tie and I certainly think we have chances tomorrow.’
The 53-year-old said he’s happy for his side to be the underdogs and not talked up too much, but did say he rates Manchester United highly, despite their awful campaign in the Premier League.
‘Nobody talks about Sociedad. That’s what it’s like. We are used to that, Man United are a massive club. Tomorrow I’m convinced that they will be really going into it trying to win like we are,’ he said.
‘We will see a team which is super competitive, nothing surprised me how they played last week. Their way of competing, the way they do in the Premier League.
‘Fantastic team, great players, well coached. Arsenal couldn’t win here so that means this team works well and performs well.
‘In the Premier League they’ve not had the best results but I’ve seen matches where their performances have deserved more.’
On Manchester United’s team news Ruben Amorim confirmed that Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire will not feature, while Mason Mount is still out, despite returning to training.
The longer-term injury list includes Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo.
‘Mason Mount is too soon,’ said the United boss. ‘Leny is out. Harry Maguire cannot play this one. I hope to have him for Sunday.
‘Manu [Ugarte] is in the squad and I think there is no-one returning.’
