Offside News

Sports

Knee trouble sidelines Vidic

Comment: 0 December 9th, 2011 by: admin

ADDING to Manchester United’s woes, captain and defender Nemanja Vidic has reportedly been ruled out for months or perhaps the rest of the season due to knee damage.

The injury was sustained during their match against FC Basel, where the Red Devils lost 2-1 and exited the Champions League competition.

Speculations of Vidic’s injury and his unavailability for months to come was confirmed by the defender’s agent, Silvano Martina.

‘Unfortunately he has suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament,’ said Martina.  And on the subject of whether or not the injury would sideline Vidic for several months, Martina replied ‘Unfortunately so, yes.’

Injury woes have surrounded Vidic as well as the rest of the squad when the defender was plagued with a calf problem that allegedly put a strain on the Devils’ defence.

With Vidic on United’s defence, the Red Devils were said to have conceded 3 goals this season; without him, the number rocketed up to 19 in the span of 13 matches.

For Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, Vidic’s apparent influence on the team’s performance makes his recent injury a potentially significant setback.

His other option is Rio Ferdinand, who at the moment is also limited in his performance due to a string of muscular difficulties.

Aside from Vidic’s situation, Ferguson’s team are potentially plagued by the possibility of the condition of Ashley Young’s damaged toe worsening during the recent match against Basel.

The problematic toe had previously sidelined Young for an entire month, and had apparently caused him to exit the match in the 64^th minute last Thursday.

There remains no word on the possibility of him again being sidelined.

Manchester United’ loss against Basel has officially booted them out of the running for the Champions League competition – something that has not happened in six years.

‘Of course we’re disappointed,’ said Ferguson during an interview.  ‘There is no other way you can feel.  We had so much possession and opportunities in the last third but the finishing part of our game, you have to say, has let us down.

‘We were careless,’ he said.  ‘We let ourselves down badly.’

More