Manchester United are dealing with a shortage of central defenders ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, following the FA’s decision to lengthen Harry Maguire’s suspension stemming from his dismissal against Bournemouth.
The defender was absent from Monday’s loss to Leeds United after serving the standard one-game ban triggered by the red card he received in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on March 20. Maguire, 33, had been sent off for pulling the shirt of Evanilson. However, the Football Association has now added an extra match to his suspension after ruling that he used “abusive or insulting language or acted improperly” towards fourth official Matt Donohue while protesting the decision. Maguire initially argued his case with referee Stuart Attwell, and his behaviour on the touchline followed a late Bournemouth penalty that resulted from the incident.
As a result, Maguire will also miss the trip to Stamford Bridge, where he joins Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines due to suspension. Martínez, the 28‑year‑old Argentina international, was sent off in the Leeds match for grabbing the hair of Dominic Calvert‑Lewin. United have lodged an appeal against that decision.
The game against Chelsea is absolutely vital for both United and Chelsea, as both teams chase a top-five spot in the Premier League rankings. With six rounds remaining, United have the upper hand, sitting third with 55 points, the same as Aston Villa in fourth, and three more than Liverpool in fifth. Chelsea are sixth with 48, which obviously makes their position more difficult.
Across all competitions over the past three seasons, United have contested 32 matches without both Maguire and Martínez available. They have managed to win just 12 of those games.
Within the club, there has been surprise at the length of time taken by the FA to reach a ruling on Maguire’s conduct. The 26‑day delay, with the judgment arriving only three days before a pivotal fixture against Chelsea, had not been anticipated. United had hoped for an earlier outcome, particularly given the importance of the match in the battle for a top‑five league finish and…
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