Manchester United have flown out to Skopje as they get set to take on Real Madrid for the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday night.

They won both the Europa League and the League Cup last season, and Jose Mourinho will be hoping to add another trophy to his collection in the Macedonian capital.

United face a formidable test against the La Liga and Champions League winners though, who will have Cristiano Ronaldo available for the first time since the 4-1 win over Juventus that sealed a 12th European Cup for the Spanish giants.

The Red Devils have a fully fit squad to choose from for the match but will be without the suspended Eric Bailly.

New signings Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof have all travelled and are expected to make their competitive debuts.

Zidane on Bale's future

Mourinho will make his team tomorrow and I mine. You pouring a little gasoline on his comments, isn’t going to change anything.

Bale? Whatever decision I have to take tomorrow, I’ll take it. Mourinho saying something doesn’t change anything for us.

The important thing is the player is fine. He’s had no issues in training, and that’s important.

The end of his season wasn’t easy for him, injured.

But I’m happy for him and what’s important is what we do, not what someone else says.

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Ramos on Bale's future

At the moment Gareth is a player of Real Madrid and we’re delighted to have him on board. The future of any player is decided by the player.

The month of August is very long and anything can happen.

But Gareth is on our team and we love to have the best players.

Zidane on the game

We have prepared well for the first official game of the new season. We’re well rested and eager physically.

Ramos hits out at Mourinho's Bale comments

Knowing Bale is in our team makes us calmer. We don’t care but can only respect the opinion of another coach.

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Ramos chimes in on Zidane vs Mou

Zidane has trained us very well since he’s been manager. Mourinho had a track record too.

Marcelo aims shot at Mourinho

Mourinho helped us a lot in the past and now Zidane does. The difference between them is the titles.

For sure there are some [differences] but I can’t say which.

Marcelo claims the motivation remains the same

We’re going to give everything. The motivation is always the same to defend the badge ‘til death.

We suffered a lot to win the Champions and the prize is to be in this game.

Marcelo: The pre-season friendly vs United means little

We’ve already played against United this pre-season.

But what matters is now. We are looking very much forward to entering the final, the same for our rivals.

It’ll be Marcelo and Sergio Ramos to speak for Real Madrid along with Zinedine Zidane.

Classic Ramos, who sports an outrageous haircut alongside his Brazilian pal.

Two Real legends and hungry for more success this season.

More updates coming up as Real Madrid prepare to speak to the media.

Zinedine Zidane will speak first for Los Blancos.

Will he hit back at Mourinho for his carefully announced prediction on Gareth Bale’s future?

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Carrick on Mata

He’s a terrific player, a great signing for us, who knows what it takes to win.

He had a massive part to play at Chelsea and what’s important is he knows the league, the English way, how tough it is, how the season is, so he’ll adapt quickly at United and I hope he’ll have a big part to play for years to come.

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Mata on his 1% charity initiative

Football is a great sport that we all love, but it means much more than that for many people around the world. the idea was to bring together professional footballers and social together for change and for improving so many peoples lives. Toegther we can be stornger and make a real impact in the world through football.

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Mata determined to beat Real

They are the ones everyone wants to beat; they have a great team, they won league in Spain.

We know how good they are but United has great history and record of titles. We won three trophies last season.

One day, sooner rather than later, we want to be where they were last season – in a Champions League final and hopefully winning it.

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Jose Mourinho confirms Gareth Bale interest - but admits Super Cup will define Real Madrid star's future

Jose Mourinho has revealed he will “fight” for Gareth Bale if the £85million star is not wanted by Real Madrid.

Manchester United boss Mourinho has been linked with a summer move for Bale, who has fallen out of favour at Real under Zinedine Zidane.

United face Real in the UEFA Super Cup tomorrow, with Mourinho claiming he will know if Bale is wanted if he makes Zidane’s starting line-up in Skopje.

Real are trying to sign Monaco’s £160million-rated wonderkid Kylian Mbpappe, which would almost certainly leave Bale surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu.

Read the full story here.


Carrick: We're taking this seriously

You can’t underestimate what we achieved to be here so we’re taking it seriously.

I’m not sure anyone in our squad has won it .

Carrick on Mkhitaryan

I don’t want to give too much away!

Henrikh is a fantastic player and we saw improvement last season as he adjusted to the league.

He has a big part to play this season because he is a terrific footballer.

Mourinho on Bale's future

Well if he’s playing tomorrow, no I wouldn’t think of that, it would be because he’s in the coach’s plans and the club’s plans, because he also has that motivation to continue at Real Madrid.

So I haven’t even thought about the possibility. If he is not in the club’s plans, that with the arrival of another player would mean he was on his way out, I will try to be waiting for him on the other side and fight with other coaches that would want him on their team.

But if he plays tomorrow, that is the best confirmation that he is still wanted by the team.

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Mourinho hits out at anti-doping controls

I only hope tomorrow the team that wins, the doping control people allow them to celebrate and enjoy their moment.

Mourinho wants to see old friend Pandev

Goran Pandev [who played under Mourinho at Inter] is probably the best player in Macedonia history, he could even come just for the match but it’s down to Genoa.

Mourinho: Just enjoy the moment

It’s not many times a player can play in the Super Cup unless you are Real or Barcelona, winning European trophies regularly.

[The players must] play and enjoy this special moment.

Mourinho on the weather

I knew the weather was like this. Since returning from the States, I decided to train in Manchester every day at 4pm to give the feeling of heat, but it was raining every day!

Even for Real it has to be hard, though they are more adapted.

Mourinho: We can beat Real!

We are going to try but the difference between the Champions League winners and Europa League winners is obvious.

The Europa League is very difficult to win; there is a difference of quality but we believe it’s possible.

Team news

No Phil Jones, no Eric Bailly, no Tim Fosu-Mensah because he is probably going on loan to another club.

The injuries are the long-term ones you all know – Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo.

Apart from that, everyone is available.

Obviously Matic is available but not like the others.

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Early team news

Eric Bailly is suspended for the clash after his red card in last season’s Europa League final.

Phil Jones is also out of the game due to a UEFA punishment.

Sergio Romero and Jesse Lingard missed the last friendly game against Sampdoria, but could make it in time for the Super Cup.

Teams to be given water breaks

Manchester United and Real Madrid will be permitted “cooking breaks” to cope with the searing heat in tomorrow’s Super Cup final.

Temperatures in Macedonia’s capital of Skopje have hit 40C, with the heat still set to be around the 32C mark by kick-off at 7.45pm (8:45pm local time) on Tuesday.

UEFA have made provisions for two water breaks, in the 30th and 75th minutes, should the temperature exceed 32C by the time the game gets under way.

United and Real were allowed similar water breaks when they met in Santa Clara last month on their pre-season tours of the US, where Jose Mourinho’s side won on penalties after the two sides drew 1-1.