MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Edinson Cavani ‘didn’t feel ready to play’ against Paris Saint-Germain and will miss out on an emotional return.
The Uruguayan striker left Ligue 1 champions PSG this summer after seven years in the French capital.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Edinson Cavani ‘didn’t feel ready to play’ against PSGCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He signed for United on a free during transfer deadline day, but will not play against his former club in the Champions League opener.
Manager Solskjaer told RMC Sport: “We wanted him to be there too, but he went without playing for a long time.
“We thought it was better for him to continue training. To better prepare.
“Edi knows what he wants and what he needs. He didn’t feel ready enough.”
Captain Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly will also not feature against PSG.
With Maguire out, Bruno Fernandes will inherit the armband for the game.
And Fernandes praised Cavani for his opening impression at the club.
He said: “It’s normal that he isn’t here, with only two days of training he needs to feel better.
United signed Cavani on a free transfer this season Credit: PA:Press Association
“He’s settled down well. We did only one training session together. He likes to train hard.
“He has qualities to be a leader for us, the way he trains. He’s going to be important to us.”
In the pre-match press conference, Fernandes appeared surprised when finding out the news he would captain United.
He said: “I was not expecting this, for me it’s an honour to be captain of Manchester United.
“It is an important achievement for me but I think everyone is the captain, everyone needs to help and be a leader in their own way, leadership is different in every player.
“The game will not be about me but the team but leading is every day on the training ground, every game and everyone is doing their job to lead the team in the way they think is best.”
Edinson Cavani joins Man Utd in training for the first time
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
