Manchester United are heading on a coach trip to London after their travel plans for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham were affected by train cancellations.
United had planned to travel to the capital via rail on Saturday, before flying back to Manchester on Sunday night.
But a fault with the signalling system between Rugby and Milton Keynes caused chaos on the train lines, with multiple services either cancelled or severely delayed.
A train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston generally takes around two and a half hours if running on time. The same journey by coach is expected to take just over four hours.
It is not unusual for teams to travel by bus, with all Premier League clubs having access to luxury team coaches.
However, the vehicle taking United to London is not their normal bus. It is a much less luxurious coach that was seemingly hired at short notice.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim pictured loading his luggage onto a coach after his team had to abandon their plans to travel to London by train for Sunday’s game at Tottenham
The coach picked United’s players and staff up at Manchester Airport, where the team plan to fly back to following Sunday’s Premier League match
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes pictured getting out of his car before boarding the coach
Travel issues are not the only problem facing United manager Ruben Amorim ahead of Sunday’s game.
United have a lengthy injury list – although not quite as long as Tottenham’s – with Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Jonny Evans, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer all ruled out.
Midfielders Mainoo, Ugarte and Collyer all suffered knocks in training this week, leaving United short of options in midfield.
As a result, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen could be brought back in from the cold this weekend, despite them only playing a combined 176 minutes since starting alongside each other in the dismal 2-0 loss to Newcastle on December 30.
