Manchester United stars arrive back in the UK after Champions League win over Benfica… and matchwinner Marcus Rashford gives injury boost
Rashford was substituted in the 76th minute and looked in a lot of pain, but there was not a crutch in sight at Manchester Airport
MANCHESTER UNITED'S players landed back in the UK after their Champions League win at Benfica - and there were positive signs on Marcus Rashford's injury.
The 19-year-old, who ended up being the match-winner for his 40-yard free-kick that eluded Benfica keeper Mila Svilar, came off injured on 76 minutes.
As he trudged down the tunnel, there were worrying signs that it was serious, with boss Jose Mourinho saying after the game that he had picked up a knee injury.
But when the squad landed back at Manchester Airport at 2am this morning, the England man was walking unaided without a crutch in sight.
Mourinho will now be hoping the injury is not as serious as first feared, and that the striker is fit for Huddersfield away on Saturday in the Premier League.
But it came in bizarre circumstances in Lisbon on a night 18-year-old Mile Svilar will want to forget.
Svilar, aged 18 years and 52 days, became the youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history when he was named in the Benfica starting line-up.
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The second half saw United show much more attacking intent but the winner came in bizarre circumstances.
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Marcus Rashford had just tested Svilar with two in-swinging corners that almost found their way into the net.
The first he punched clear and the second he scrambled back to tip over the bar.
It was as if Rashford could sense his fellow teen’s nervousness on the big night, so in the 64th minute he tested him again.
This time it was from a free kick that he sent in-swinging from wide out on the left.
Undoubtedly it was aiming for a glancing head of a team-mate but it bypassed everyone.
Svilar was backpedalling and while he caught it, he could not stop his own momentum and he took the ball with him beyond the goal-line.
Prior to goal-line technology it would have been difficult to give it, but the referee’s wrist band buzzed and the eye in the sky had given it.
And despite many of the players, and boss Mourinho looking somewhat bleary-eyed arriving at the north-west airport in the early hours, it was a case of "job done" in their European adventure.
And on arriving at his hotel at 3am, Romelu Lukaku decided he needed some "recovery".
He first posted a photo of the reception area, unsurprisingly empty considering the time, and then a bath filled with what looks like salts.
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