Ralf Rangnick: 'It will be tough to choose defence against Atletico Madrid'

Manchester United interim head coach Ralf Rangnick has said that he will find it difficult to pick his central defenders for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg with Atletico Madrid.

Raphael Varane has had his injury problems this season, while the centre-back was also recently absent due to a positive COVID-19 test, but he returned against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Frenchman is again expected to line up alongside club captain Harry Maguire in the middle of the defence for the European contest with Diego Simeone's side.

However, Rangnick has suggested that Victor Lindelof is also firmly in his thoughts for a starting role, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 from the first leg in Spain.

"Yes, it's very important (Varane's return) but, with Victor Lindelof, we have also won quite a few games and played well and had quite a few clean sheets," Rangnick told reporters. "Right now, we have top players for the centre of defence and it will not be so easy for me to take that decision for tomorrow.

"Also, when Victor came on in the last 10 to 15 minutes, he played well, but, as I said, it's good to have Rapha fully fit again and it's also good that we looked after him and he looked after himself, not playing too early again. Now he seems to be fit on a regular basis and can play for us regularly."

Lindelof started at right-back against Atletico in the first leg of the last-16 tie at Wanda Metropolitano but was eventually replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the second period.