ไทย
English
中國人
As if things couldn't get any worse at Manchester United, Carlos Baleba appeared to pick up a serious injury during the club's Champions League encounter with Roma on Tuesday.
United arrived at Old Trafford desperate to end a nine-match winless streak, only to find themselves 2–0 down by the 18th minute. Poor positioning from Diogo Dalot and a penalty given away by Ayden Heaven handed Roma a comfortable advantage before Michael Carrick's side could find their footing.
The situation worsened further in the second half. Baleba, who had already missed the beginning of the season with an ankle problem, pulled up in clear discomfort after a driving run forward, grabbing at his hamstring before collapsing to the ground.
The summer arrival received treatment from the medical team on the field and appeared visibly distressed before being substituted in the 51st minute by Youri Tielemans.
However, the Red Devils refused to let the setback derail a remarkable comeback. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back with a composed penalty—after being permitted to retake his initial effort due to encroachment—before Matheus Cunha struck twice late on to seal a dramatic 3–2 victory for the hosts.
Michael Carrick is set to give an update on Baleba's condition in the near future.
Man Utd Cannot Escape Injury Woes
It's a cruel blow for Baleba, who has managed just six appearances in a United shirt since his move from Brighton & Hove Albion. But it's an even crueler blow for the club itself.
Throughout the team's difficult run, Carrick has been deprived of numerous players. Benjamin Šeško, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte are all still sidelined with long-term concerns, while Kobbie Mainoo only recently made his return after his own spell on the treatment table.
Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martínez have also spent time out injured. The mounting injury list, combined with a disappointing summer in the transfer market, has left Carrick short of options during a critical run of fixtures—and United failed to claim a single win before Tuesday's clash with Roma.
If Baleba faces a prolonged absence, Carrick would be left with only Tielemans, Mainoo, Andrey Santos and Mason Mount as midfield options.
One small consolation is that the injury has occurred just before the November international break, giving the 22-year-old an additional two weeks to recuperate. Whether Carrick will still be at the helm when Baleba is fit to return, however, remains an open question.