Man Utd Lose 2-0 to Leeds, Exposing Squad Depth Issues

Manchester United's push for Champions League qualification hit a snag on Monday night as they faltered against rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford, exposing vulnerabilities in squad depth during a 2-0 defeat. The absence of influential midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, sidelined by a minor training injury, highlighted the team's reliance on key players as they conceded twice from undefended crosses and saw defender Lisandro Martínez sent off late in the match.

Mainoo, the 20-year-old who has started all 10 Premier League games since interim head coach Michael Carrick took charge in mid-January, picked up the knock during the final training session before the fixture. Carrick, speaking to Sky Sports ahead of kickoff, described it as a small issue but one not worth risking with a congested schedule ahead. "Over the last day or so in training, he just picked up a small issue," Carrick said. "It seems not too bad, but it wasn't worth pushing it tonight with the games coming up." Manuel Ugarte stepped in for his first start under Carrick, partnering Casemiro in midfield, but the Argentine appeared rusty after limited minutes this season, contributing to a disjointed performance. Ugarte's...