Como are waiting on UEFA to decide whether Jesus Rodriguez Ortuno can be taken off their squad list before Manchester United arrive at the Stadio Sinigaglia. Cesc Fabregas said Rodriguez will be out for the next two months after a setback in training, and Como filed the paperwork by 18.45 yesterday, 24 hours before kick-off of the Como vs Manchester United match.
Como's squad-list race
Fabregas said the injury is serious enough that Rodriguez is facing a long absence. "Unfortunately there will be a long absence for Jesus Rodriguez. He had a setback at the last second of training, it does not seem slight but more serious," he told TuttoMercatoWeb, in comments translated from Italian.
The other piece of the puzzle is the replacement. Football Italia reported that Maxence Caqueret is the likeliest name to come onto the UEFA list, but the change is still pending and Como are awaiting a final decision.
UEFA rules require the injured player to be out for at least 60 days before a squad-list replacement can be approved. That leaves Como in an awkward spot, because they have already pushed the paperwork through with little time before the Manchester United game.
United arrive with their own injury concerns
United are not arriving at full strength either. Lisandro Martínez was taken off at half-time against Leeds after feeling a thigh problem, and Michael Carrick later said, "[Martinez] felt his thigh a little bit."
The defensive concern sits on top of a poor league start. United are 13th in the Premier League with 7 points, while Martinez has made 6 league appearances and Luke Shaw has made 5. Carrick's side can hardly afford more disruption, even if Martinez is still only described as a doubt rather than a confirmed absentee.
For Como, though, the immediate issue is the same one that opened this story, whether UEFA give them the green light in time for Tuesday's match.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
