Erik ten Hag may be about to upset the apple cart at Manchester United. (Image: Getty)
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be set for some tense conversations with not only his squad, but members of the Red Devils’ medical staff before Sunday’s clash with Arsenal. The Dutchman has lamented his inability to put out his strongest team due to injuries and is reportedly taking strong action in the final few games of the season.
The Sun claim that Ten Hag wants his decimated squad to put themselves up for selection for the upcoming visit of Arsenal to Old Trafford. In the recent 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Crystal Palace, Ten Hag was unable to call on a host of influential players including Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire, but is desperate for absentees to return to take on Mikel Arteta’s outfit.
However, with United now out of the race for the Champions League, and with hopes of any European football next season dwindling, players may be less inclined to put their bodies on the line for no tangible reward and a head coach that could even be sacked at the end of the season.
The club’s busy medical staff, which has had to handle 64 separate cases of injury and illness already this campaign, would likely also take issue with players taking part in high-octane Premier League clashes if deemed unfit.
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Marcus Rashford is back in Manchester United training before the visit of Arsenal. (Image: Getty)
Even though his job is on the line, Ten Hag is risking alienating himself from his playing squad and medical team with the Sun claiming he has called on United stars to be ‘more robust’ when it comes to making themselves available for selection in the four final games of the season.
He could be bolstered by the returns of Rashford and Lisandro Martinez, who have both featured in training this week, but the likes of Maguire, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Willy Kambwala, Tyrell Malacia, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial will all likely remain sidelined.
Ten Hag previously noted after reaching 100 games in charge of United that he had won 61 of them and was proud of that record, insisting that few would be able to better that tally with so many injuries factored in.
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“It tells us that we are going in the right direction,” Ten Hag protested. “So imagine we had many more players available and not setbacks and injuries, could easily have 75 wins and that tells the bright future of this team.
“When you compare it with other managers, other teams, or previous managers in this big club you can see there is a bright future. It is a good balance in ages in this squad. Young players, middle-aged players; imagine when they are available, could easily have won from 100 games 75. It is a big difference.
“No team can deal with so many injuries. I think we played to maximum levels if you take into respect the availability of the players. We missed so many key players over the part of the season. The performances we have seen when the players are available in January and February the performances are very good.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1897620/Man-Utd-injury-news-Erik-ten-Hag-Arsenal