If anything happens to Manchester United’s Champions League ambitions, FIFA should be held responsible. Gabriel and Saliba played full time in the Carabao Cup final, and after playing international friendlies, they are now injured.
Friendlies are no longer friendly matches, as every player is using them to work their way into the national team. During England vs Uruguay, we saw the dangerous tackle Ronald Araújo made on Phil Foden.
Pedro Neto, against Mexico, was also seen trying to throw punches, while Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have left the England camp for medical assessment, and Bruno Fernandes is still with the Portugal team.
The truth is, if Bruno Fernandes gets injured and is sidelined, it will be a huge loss for Manchester United, who are working hard to consolidate their third position and qualify for the Champions League next season.
Portugal’s next game is against the United States, which will be played on April 1. Softfootball believes the international break is a normal routine, where national teams build chemistry and prepare for competitions like the World Cup, but the timing is problematic for clubs, especially at this crucial stage of the season.
