Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United’s manager, has acknowledged that with a rapidly growing list of injured players, securing a spot in the Champions League will be a daunting task for the club. The club, currently placed sixth, is set to play against Chelsea next Thursday at a late-night game (8.15). In recent unfortunate events, Lisandro Martínez and Victor Lindelöf, two of the team’s defending players, have fallen victim to muscle injuries. The team announced on Tuesday that these players would remain side-lined for at least a month.
Injuries have been a persistent issue for Ten Hag’s team throughout this season. With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia out of action, the return of Raphaël Varane and Jonny Evans to training sessions is a radiant glimmer of hope for the club.
There is ongoing scrutiny of Ten Hag’s position as Jim Ratcliffe conducts a structural examination of the team. When asked if the new minority owner would consider the extensive injury list as a mitigating factor, should United fail to secure a place in the top four, Ten Hag responded, “I’m clueless, and frankly, not much bothered about it.”
The manager avowed that his primary concern is maintaining high standards saying, “I anticipate disappointment if we fail to qualify. We acknowledge the complexity given our current unfavourable position, but are committed to emerging victorious in every game; that’s our encapsulated ethos. We are optimistic and tenaciously adhere to our standards.”
Ten Hag admits recognition of United’s challenging position saying, “We have a vast gap to surmount, and our history reeks of troubles, so being pragmatic is essential. Rivals are closely matched, making player availability crucial for consistent team performance and developing a stylistic pattern. Sub-optimal team composition leads to a slump in standards and loss of points. Consistency enhances performance, hence having the best squad players in high spirits positively correlates with points accumulation.”
Earlier in November reports emerged of United’s players criticising the club’s pre-season’s intensity. Ten Hag dismisses this as a cause for the subsequent injuries saying, “Our training sessions are not excessively strenuous. In this competitive league, high physical fitness is a prerequisite for upholding the expected standards. We do not push our training to the extreme.” He further remains hopeful, yet uncertain, about the future resolution of the injury concerns.
“It is utterly unfeasible to entirely prevent this,” he stated. “Aside from that, there are five instances annually where we delegate our players to national teams, over which we have no control. We maintain excellent relationships with some national squads and can manage their schedules, however, there are others who simply follow their own agenda.” – Guardian