Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has made the astonishing claim that he has only been able to select his strongest squad once in the past 18 months.
United have been besieged by injuries throughout a difficult season and Ten Hag is facing another crisis ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at Wembley with the news Harry Maguire is a doubt after only returning to training on Friday.
Maguire picked up a knock at Bournemouth last time out and although he could be available at the weekend, Ten Hag is definitely without defenders Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Tyrell Malacia.
Discussing his side's injury issues this term, Ten Hag made the bold suggestion that he has been able to choose his strongest squad on just one occasion in the past year and a half - against rivals Manchester City in January 2023.
"In 18 months I have never had my favourite team on the pitch, because the players are injured. That concerns me," Ten Hag said at his press conference on Friday.
"In fact, one time against Man City last season in the home game - that was the only time we had a full squad when I could pick my team. In all the other games, there was always an injury aspect that we had to deal with. That's normal in football, but not as many as we have had.
"When you have so many injuries as we have had in crucial, key positions, you can't deliver the results you want. That's my truth. Others can have different truths, but I can't put energy into that."
This season, United have had more than 30 injuries that have led to one or more games being missed, according to Premier Injuries data, and their latest injury crisis comes despite playing fewer games than last campaign.
The amount of injuries Ten Hag has had to manage is undoubtedly a factor in United's current struggles, but their inconsistent performances and results - as well as the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS - continue to create uncertainty around the Dutchman's future.
Asked if he believes he has been treated unfairly at times, Ten Hag - who guided United to Carabao Cup glory and a third-place finish in the Premier League during his first season in charge, said: "I don't put energy into whether I'm judged fairly or not fairly.
"I know what we are doing here and I know why I am here - to bring trophies and to create economic value. We are working on those.
"In the process, you have setbacks and I look at this and can see it realistically and rationally. I am only focusing on my team - to improve my team and individuals. That's what I'm here for."
Man Utd's remaining fixtures
April 21: Coventry City - FA Cup semi-final (Wembley), kick-off 3.30pm
April 24: Sheffield United - Premier League (H), kick-off 8pm
April 27: Burnley - Premier League (H), kick-off 3pm
May 6: Crystal Palace - Premier League (A), kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 12: Arsenal - Premier League (H), kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
May 15: Newcastle - Premier League (H), kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 19: Brighton - Premier League (A) - kick-off 4pm
BavarianFab
476
See fool , so because he put sancho on exile that’s why the players are getting injured abi. Mumu
Unfortunately your father thought he had a son, not knowing he only has a lost mannerless and senseless uncultured and numb child. It’s even obvious you would have taken such life from the woman who failed and or refused to abort you.
Ltm004
439
Madrid has had to play a CDM as a CB and even got a 34 years old Joselu but you want to complain about players availability? If they've lacked form, who's fault is that? Why is he still complaining about a full team if others are achieving without their full teams intact? Have you seen the injury list of Newcastle or Totheham? Brentfort player half a year without the top stricker. He has no excuse
stop acting like our team actually has good players apart from a few we've lost Martinez so we can't even play the ball into the midfield. Casemiro one of the reason we did well last season has lost form and is crap now he can't even run.Weve had to play with weird players in the back having lindelof even play at leftback.Rashford isn't even performing well and offers nothing creatively as a winger just in dimensional cut in shout.You really expect someone to build a team with bunch of crap players.I haven't even mentioned all the problems that should tell you something.Fans like you are entitled thinking ten hag should pull magic out of their ass with this players just because he did well last season.
Okú7
372
He is saying the truth but you media will try to paint him black for more people to hate him
haabdemnrz
316
Most of manutd staffs are piece of shit especially their team doctors... Imagine the doctor team head was a former arsenal doc so what do we expect... Sir Jim should just help us flush every bad eggs and give the coach a last chance
Sirkhay89
263
Ten hag’s excuses is not going to help him stay in Old Trafford or fool Sir Ratcliffe as his fate has already been decided. Just look at Liverpool they had so many players injured (some with long term injuries) that they had to use players from their academy. Yet Liverpool is 3rd in the EPL table 2 points behind leader. It all boils down to down to how good the manager is with tactical acumen and good man management where players go all out in every game. On the other hand it’s obvious that MU’s players lost their respect for ten hag. Firstly there is no mutual respect between manager and players. Secondly players don’t believe in his “strategies”. In other word players can’t wait to see their manager leave the club and safe them the agony to work with someone so incompetent.
I see u are very delusional and doesn’t know what I talking about Yes ten hag brought players who aren’t bringing the exact expectations and development to the team but u can’t fault him totally for what’s happening with our players bcus we know how this players have been even before ten hag came in Last year on his first season those players he brought in like Casemiro Antony Martinez Malacia Ericksen were all contributors to the best of the team in ways he wanted and we had a good season and this season the players he brought were not so good and it can happen to any manager It in the world there’s no coach who can survive the amount of injuries ten hag is facing this season U talked about Koop with academy players and we saw how Koop was doing last year when just van jiik was injured almost for 5 months We saw Real Madrid galacticos of years ago the like of Carlos Zidane figo kaka guti Ronaldo nazario etc but de hat exactly did they win To build a team isn’t just a a year project but at least three years to four years Players like rashford sancho martial who thr coaches count on to deliver goals are nowhere to be found but here u call out the coach for their shit display knowing that’s how they’ve been for so long and thru them countless coaches have been sacked Anyways I won’t argue with I since u don’t know football and I’m very sure u never kicked a football before
AustinEvergreen1
119
He may not be the best coach but really there isn't alot of coaches that would do better with such injury crisis and at the same time with this takeover Sega that lasted almost 2 years, if you don't believe me you ask Klopp.
Hizblnprsz
101
Ten hag’s excuses is not going to help him stay in Old Trafford or fool Sir Ratcliffe as his fate has already been decided. Just look at Liverpool they had so many players injured (some with long term injuries) that they had to use players from their academy. Yet Liverpool is 3rd in the EPL table 2 points behind leader. It all boils down to down to how good the manager is with tactical acumen and good man management where players go all out in every game. On the other hand it’s obvious that MU’s players lost their respect for ten hag. Firstly there is no mutual respect between manager and players. Secondly players don’t believe in his “strategies”. In other word players can’t wait to see their manager leave the club and safe them the agony to work with someone so incompetent.