Tottenham will face Manchester United in the Europa League Final on May 21, and although Spurs are reeling with their own injury issues, they could face a Man United team hobbled at a key position.
Manchester United center backs Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt both went down with injuries and may not be able to play next week in the Final. De Ligt suffered a knee injury in his return from an ankle injury on May 4 in a loss to Brentford and has been out since.
Meanwhile, Yoro is a newer injury to the Manchester United defense, as the young Frenchman suffered a left foot injury over the weekend in a shock 2-0 loss to West Ham. Yoro had to limp off the pitch.
Tottenham could face a weakned Man United defense
According to a report from Samuel Luckhurst, Sam Truelove, and George Smith of Football.London, neither De Ligt nor Yoro were available at practice on Wednesday ahead of this weekend's big Premier League clash against top-five contenders and Conference League Finalists Chelsea.
This injury update doesn't bode well for Manchester United next week against Tottenham, and while there is time for both Yoro and De Ligt to return then, they may not be 100 percent even if they are able to play.
So that does bode well for Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke, who has been the most pivotal player for Spurs in the 2024/25 Europa League season, cementing his status as a big-game player with a goal and a strong all-around performance in the second leg of the semifinals vs. Bodo Glimt.
Solanke not having to face De Ligt and Yoro, two of the best center backs in the Europa League, would be massive. De Ligt and Yoro are both great athletes with speed and strength, and Solanke is also a phenomenal athlete. He can have a much better time in the air if players like Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw are starting at center back instead.
Tottenham need any boost they can get for the Europa League Final. While it is never good to see players injured, including those on opponents, Spurs will take what they can get.
Solanke is going to be one of the big X-Factors for Spurs on Wednesday night, and if he gets to go up against a softer Manchester United back three when competing for set pieces and holding play up, that's a win for everyone, the wingers like Son Heung-min included.