Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be forced into a less than ideal reshuffle for next week’s second leg at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer although pleased with his side’s Europa League victory against Granada said it was “not a perfect night” after three bookings ruled out a trio of players through suspension for next week’s quarter-final second leg.
United look well set for a place in the last four after goals in each half from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes pushed them through with a 2-0 victory against the Spanish side.
Unfortunately, the Red Devils will be lacking Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw for next week’s return game after the three picked up bookings.
Speaking after the game to BT Sport, Solskjaer said:
“It was not a perfect night. We got three yellow cards and three suspensions. 2-0 is very good result. We know how difficult it is to come to Spain. We’ve got to play well to get a result.”
Solskjaer lauded the performance of the two goalscorers, with Rashford’s excellent first-half strike from Victor Lindelof’s cross-field pass taking his tally to 20 in all competitions.
It was also his eighth goal in European competition this season, the first English player to achieve that feat for the Red Devils since Sir Bobby Charlton in 1964-65.
Fernandes meanwhile scored a late penalty to move to 24 goals for the season. The Portuguese has scored 19 of the 20 spot-kicks he has taken for the club in all competitions this campaign.
“They [Rashford and Fernandes] have been exceptional, so important for us,” added Solskjaer.
“It was a very good run by Rashford, takes the ball fantastically. Bruno is so confident on penalties even though the keeper almost saved it.”
“We want to win every game. It’s still a young team, a learning team. We have to improve all the time. Football catches you so quickly if you rest. We can’t have any other approach.”