Of course, it is not all good news for the Manchester United coaching staff and Red Devils fans. On the morning of May 9, Manchester United's official website updated three announcements at the same time:

Team veteran Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira (Pepe) ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee in the match against Bayern Munich and will undergo surgery, which will require him to be absent for at least 5-6 months;

Team forward Edinson Cavani ruptured the medial collateral ligament of his right knee in the match against Bayern Munich and will undergo surgery, which is expected to be absent for about 4 weeks;

Team midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez fractured his eyebrow bone in the match against Bayern Munich and will undergo surgery, which is expected to be absent for about 2-3 weeks;

Three main players were seriously injured in one game, which is undoubtedly a huge blow to Manchester United, which is about to face a derby battle. More than half an hour had passed since Steve McNally displayed the hospital diagnosis of three players and the post-match physical examination reports of other players on the big screen in the tactical analysis room. Head coach Mourinho stared at the big screen with a sullen face and said nothing; Steve McNally, Van Nistelrooy, Rui Faria, and Giovanni Serra standing beside him also did not speak.

Not to mention how important the central axis of Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira (Pepe), Bruno Fernandes, and Edinson Cavani is to Manchester United now, just looking at the physical examination reports of the other nine starting players in the match against Bayern Munich is enough to give Mourinho a headache for several days:

Three red alerts: Raphael Varane, Marco Verratti, Ashraf Hakimi (Note: The risk of injury exceeds 70%, it is recommended to rest.)

Three yellow alerts: Theo Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Romelu Lukaku, (Note: The risk of injury exceeds 50%, it is recommended to rest or control the game time within 45 minutes.)

In other words, except for goalkeeper David De Gea and Erling Haaland, nicknamed "Majin Buu", the entire main lineup of Manchester United Club has almost all fallen. Mourinho has an urge to send all the main players to the next game, but this idea is just a thought. After all, the next game is the "Manchester Derby" with Manchester City Club. The two teams are currently the top two in the Premier League, with a difference of two points. This is a game related to the ownership of the Premier League championship this season. For Manchester United, who is at home, it is not allowed to lose.

"Giovanni, take a look at the Manchester City team's lineup." Mourinho sighed and said to Giovanni Serra. Giovanni Serra walked to the big screen and put Manchester City's lineup on the big screen at the same time.

Goalkeeper: Edson Santana

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva

Forwards: Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane

"Edson Santana has excellent goal-line skills, fast reaction speed, height advantage, and accurate long pass ability, but when he faces some difficult shots or close-range shots, Edson Santana's save success rate is not high, which can be made into an article." Giovanni Serra pointed to the goalkeeper position and said.

Mourinho, Van Nistelrooy, and other members of the coaching staff nodded continuously after listening.

"Manchester City's defense line, Vincent Kompany was seriously injured in the match against Arsenal three weeks ago, and he will definitely not be able to play in this game. John Stones, the central defender, was unstable in the previous few games and can be used as a breakthrough point; Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy, the two full-backs, have been out of position many times against opponents with fast speed and strong breakthrough ability. Although Ashraf Hakimi cannot play in this game and Theo Fernandez is not in the best physical condition, our side attack reserves can still completely crush them." Giovanni Serra drew a circle on the positions of several Manchester City defenders and continued.

"Rui, you should focus on Theo's physical condition in the next two days, and then decide whether to let him start later tomorrow." Mourinho said to the physical coach Rui Faria, and then motioned Giovanni Serra to continue.

Rui Faria nodded at Mourinho and said nothing.

Giovanni Serra continued, “The midfield is one of Manchester City’s strongest links. Kevin De Bruyne is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the world. His passing skills are amazing, whether it is short, long or through balls, he can accurately find the ball.to his teammates. He has a broad vision and can instantly see the situation on the field and create excellent offensive opportunities for the team. Ilkay Gundogan is a technically comprehensive midfielder with excellent ball control ability and can stably control the ball in the midfield. At the same time, his offensive ability should not be underestimated, and he can often score goals for the team at critical moments. David Silva is one of Manchester City's midfield cores. He has delicate skills and strong dribbling ability, and can create opportunities in a small space. His passing and organizational skills are also very good, and he is the engine of the team's offense. And on the bench, there are players like Bernardo Silva who can change the situation. "

Giovanni Serra paused, looked at Mourinho and didn't mean to speak, and continued. "But there is also good news. Kevin De Bruyne was seriously injured and missed nine weeks from February to April this year. Although he performed well after recovering from the injury, we found that every time he confronted, he would subconsciously shrink his body. This is because he was afraid of being injured again. "While speaking, a detailed analysis of Kevin De Bruyne's technical movements in the last ten games appeared on the big screen.

Mourinho carefully read the analysis report on the big screen for a while, turned his head and looked at assistant coach Scholes not far away. Scholes nodded to Mourinho and said, "You can arrange Jesse Lingard to specifically mark Kevin De Bruyne. Manchester City's offensive system is very dependent on Kevin De Bruyne's performance. As long as he is strangled, Manchester City's midfield organization and offensive creativity will decline, and the offense will often be difficult to launch effectively. "

"Paul is right. Manchester City's offense is mainly based on ground coordination and passing and control, and lacks other effective offensive means. Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva, most of these Manchester City midfielders have excellent skills, are good at controlling the ball and organizing offense, but are relatively weak in defensive hardness and interception ability. "Giovanni Serra switched the big screen to the dynamic heat map of Manchester United's midfield in the last five games.

Mourinho thought about it and didn't speak. After a long time, he waved to Giovanni Serra to signal him to continue.

"Manchester City's striker, Raheem Sterling, is a very fast and technical winger. He has a strong breakthrough ability and can put a lot of pressure on the opponent's defense. Sergio Aguero is a world-class striker with superb shooting skills and a keen sense of smell in front of the goal. He can score goals for the team in various situations. Leroy Sane is also a very strong winger. His speed and skills make him a great threat in offense. On the bench, they also have Gabriel Jesus, who is also an opponent who can cause us trouble. "Giovanni Serra said. At the same time, a dynamic heat map showing the attack routes of several Manchester City forwards appeared on the big screen.

Mourinho stared at the dynamic heat map for a long time and said to the other members of the coaching staff, "Time is limited, so we won't conduct targeted training this time. The players have been tired in the past few weeks, so let's focus on relaxing training next. Our current team lineup is still worth looking forward to. "

Two flowers bloom, each with its own beauty.

While Mourinho was struggling with the next round of lineup, Rowley took Liu Xiaoyan and his secretary Lina to Manchester Hospital to visit three injured players - Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira (Pepe), Rodrigo Hernandez and Edinson Cavani. The hospital corridor was filled with the smell of disinfectant, and there was a hint of solemnity in the silence. Their footsteps echoed gently in the empty corridor, and every step seemed to carry concern and worry for the injured players.

When they came to Pepe's ward, Rowley knocked on the door gently, and after getting a response, he slowly opened the door. In the ward, Pepe was lying on the white bed, his face was a little pale, but his eyes still revealed determination. There was an IV drip on his arm and a thick bandage on his leg, which was a testimony to his injury. Secretary Lina held a bouquet of flowers in her hand, smiled and walked towards Pepe, and placed the flowers on the bedside table. "Pepe, you have to get better soon. "Lina said gently.

Rolie walked to Pepe and patted his shoulder gently. "How do you feel, brother?" Rolie's voice was full of concern. Pepe raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a somewhat forced smile. "Fortunately, I'm a little anxious. I don't know when I can return to the court." There was a hint of helplessness in Pepe's tone.

The two sat down on the chairs beside the bed and began to chat with Pepe. They talked about the team's recent games, recalling those wonderful moments and unforgettable victories. Pepe's eyes sometimes flashed with excitement, and sometimes shed tears.He showed regret. He felt sad that he could not fight side by side with his teammates on the court.

As the conversation deepened, Pepe's mood gradually became low. He sighed and said slowly: "I'm thinking, maybe my career will end like this. This injury is too serious. I don't know if I can recover to my previous state." Pepe's voice was full of frustration and confusion.

Luo Lie and Liu Xiaoyan looked at each other, and they both saw worry in each other's eyes. Luo Lie held Pepe's hand and said firmly: "Pepe, you can't think like that. Steve McNally told me that your operation was very successful. As long as you rest well, there will be no problem in recovery. You are an excellent player, and this injury is just a temporary setback. You must believe in yourself, actively cooperate with the treatment, and you will definitely be able to return to the court."

Liu Xiaoyan also nodded in agreement. "Yes, Pepe. You have always been so strong and brave. You will definitely be able to overcome difficulties this time. We all believe in you." Liu Xiaoyan's voice was gentle and powerful.

Pepe looked at them, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm already 37 years old, and I'm afraid I can no longer run and fight on the court like before." Pepe's voice trembled.

Luo Lie held Pepe's hand tightly and said, "Brother, we will always be with you and support you. You have to believe in the doctor and your body. As long as you have confidence and actively cooperate with the treatment, you will be able to recover. Moreover, we still have many goals to achieve and many honors waiting for us to pursue."

The secretary Lina also said at the right time: "Pepe, think about it, when you return to the court and hear the cheers of the fans, it will be such a wonderful thing. You can't give up, we are all waiting for you to come back."

Pepe was silent for a moment, then nodded. "You are right, I can't give up. I have to believe in myself, actively cooperate with the treatment, and strive to return to the court as soon as possible." The flame of hope rekindled in Pepe's eyes.

They talked for a long time again, talking about future plans and goals. Luo Lie told Pepe about the team's expectations for him and that everyone was working hard for his return. Pepe listened, and his heart was full of emotion. He knew that he was not fighting alone, and there were so many people who cared about him and supported him.

After leaving Pepe's ward, Luo Lie and Liu Xiaoyan went to visit Rodrigo Hernandez and Edinson Cavani. They also brought encouragement and blessings to the two injured players, making them feel the warmth and care of the team.

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