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Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has confirmed that defender Jayde Riviere will miss Sunday’s FA Cup final clash at Wembley against Chelsea.
United booked their spot in the final after putting two goals past cross-town rivals Manchester City in the last four. They will come up against Chelsea, who are chasing a domestic treble.
United are also looking to retain their title, having won the competition last year.
Ahead of the fixture, Skinner spoke to reporters and revealed that everyone is available for selection except Riviere.
“Everyone is available barring Jayde. Right now, of course, we have two training sessions left, but everyone else is up for selection, which is positive.”
“Obviously, we are gutted for Jayde. It’s obviously difficult but it’s something that is thrown at you all the time, isn’t it. If you don’t adapt then you may as well give the game to Chelsea anyway. It’s one player who is an incredible footballer and is a huge part of what we do.”
“But we also have players who can come in and do a fantastic role. We might have to adapt at times as well, that’s the game of football. You don’t just accept what you are dealt, you have to work with it, otherwise you have got no chance.”
“I believe in this team and I believe in the squad to be able to find those adaptations.”
Skinner stressed that United will have to be more physical than Chelsea if they are to win the trophy.
He emphasised, “It will be vital. Chelsea can beat you on physicality. I remember the last game of last season at Old Trafford, we were beaten on physicality and we were beaten on motivation, whereas we have improved that massively this season.”
“I must stress this, team selection is always the most difficult thing. Luckily and unluckily, I’ve had to select for the last three years an FA Cup final team and you have to leave players out, but you have to leave players out. But you have to have strategy in this game.”
He continued, “You have to know when to mix physical, when to mix technical and when to mix tactical, and if I can strike that balance in the team then we will have a good foothold in the game.”
“But it is vital. If you look at the physicality that Chelsea have, we have to match that and go beyond it if we want to win this game, no doubt, otherwise you will just get outrun. Our motivation should be to never be outrun.”
“If we give everything, we will put ourselves in a good position to win this game.”
The FA Cup final kicks off at 13:30 BST.
Featured image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images
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