With Manchester United ravaged by a mix of injury and suspension, coach Jose Mourinho is contemplating an extreme idea as his side looks to navigate two competitions at the end of a grueling season. "I'm also training hard in the gym," he said, breaking out into a smile, "so I can be an option."
Except United's list of absentees is no laughing matter for Mourinho.
Already without injured players Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, Mourinho will now be without Marouane Fellaini for Sunday's Premier league game against Swansea after the midfielder was sent off for head-butting Sergio Aguero in the 0-0 draw at Manchester City on Sunday. Fellaini is facing a three-game ban.
late in that game, substitute Timothy Fosu-Mensah picked up an injury that will see him become the latest defender to be sidelined. "We are in trouble, but we fight," Mourinho said. "That's for sure."
Center back and central midfield are the obvious problem areas for United, which is through to the Europa league semifinals - the first leg against Celta Vigo is on Thursday - and is in fifth place in the Premier league. It means two potential routes remain open to qualify for next season's Champions league.
"We are arriving at an extreme situation where now it must be unique to football. Two cruciate ligaments in the same matchIJ" Mourinho added, referring to the injuries sustained by Ibrahimovic and Rojo against Anderlecht last week. "In my career (as a manager), I had one, in 17 years. One cruciate in 17 years. Against Anderlecht I had two, in one match. We are very unlucky, that's all we can say."
Mourinho said Pogba could return from injury against Celta, and that Mata was making good progress after groin surgery.
United is making light of its problems, though, with the hard-fought draw at City extending its unbeaten run in the Premier league to 24 games. The team is now only two points behind third-place liverpool, having played one game less.