Sir Alex said: “It’s an injury crisis of major proportions. We’ve got to patch up a team for this massive game with Milan.
“We’re now operating with just 12 players with Rio out and Kieran Richardson getting injured too.
“I should have Patrice Evra for Milan, but that’s only one extra.
“The young boy Cathcart is out for the season – he was injured in training during the week. We don’t really have any other defenders.”