Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United is set to happen on Wednesday, with the proceedings being broadcasted live on Sky Sports Premier League. Manchester United’s coach, Erik ten Hag, has refuted claims made by Wayne Rooney, the club’s foremost scorer and past captain. Rooney’s contention was that some of United’s injured players were adequately fit to be on the pitch, a statement he made post United’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday.
Working as a pundit for Sky Sports, Rooney stated with full certainty that some players were feigning their unfitness, leaving Ten Hag to bear the brunt. This point of view was relayed to Ten Hag, to which he demurred emphatically. He stated that the players, presently at the Carrington training centre, were eager to play. He cited examples of Lisandro Martinez, and Bruno Fernandes who had a fitness test on Sunday, and Marcus Rashford who had pushed himself but didn’t quite make the cut.
Ten Hag further noted that Varane and Lindelof were rigorously training, preparing themselves for the FA Cup final. For the upcoming match against Newcastle United, Martinez has recovered, although the participation of Fernandes, Rashford, and Kambwala remains unpredictable. Mostly due to issues with his foot, knee and calf, Martinez has missed out on 36 out of 49 games this season. However, Ten Hag voiced his importance, stating that his spirit on the pitch was direly needed. He referred to him as a leader and a valiant player, whose absence throughout the season had been heavily felt.
United currently sits at the eighth position, trailing Chelsea and Newcastle by three points. In comparison to both these teams, United’s goal difference is notably lower. This puts pressure on Ten Hag’s team to emerge victorious in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, set to occur in a week’s time, to secure a place in Europe next season. Ten Hag’s roles have been undercritical glare due to United’s lacklustre performance this season. Despite this, the Dutch manager articulates a belief that he still has the fanbase’s support.
“In every match, home or away, the supporters show up for the team and for me. Even outside the stadium, I often get approached. It could be mere politeness, but I perceive it as genuine support. Rarely do I ever face any negative feedback. The fans comprehend our current predicament, they understand that the club is undergoing a period of transition and that we have encountered considerable challenges, particularly in positions crucially affected by injuries.”
Post the match with Newcastle, the United players will be performing an appreciation lap for their supporters, as it’s their final home match of the season. Ten Hag is hopeful about retaining his manager’s role and does not plan to bid farewell anytime soon. “Farewell? For me? That’s not my current sentiment or perspective. I don’t plan to initiate the applause lap for the fans as a sign off.”
As for Varane, the defender is expected to depart as a free agent during the summer. Ten Hag hopes Varane will be fit to contribute to the final league match at Brighton on Sunday, as well as the Cup Final the next Saturday. – Guardian.