Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he is “never” able to choose his strongest XI due to squad inconsistencies and accidents.
Speaking forward of United’s journey to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday, the Dutchman defined he was involved by his squad’s harm report, with up to 12 first-team gamers presently sidelined.
Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount are amongst these on the injured record, with Ten Hag additionally confirming Harry Maguire will miss this week’s Champions League commitments with a “complaint”. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has additionally been misplaced since the weekend.
Jadon Sancho and Antony stay unavailable due to respective off-field points.
Of United’s 21-man travelling squad, 4 are goalkeepers, whereas Ten Hag has solely been able to identify 5 defenders.
“One thing is true, from the start of last season I don’t think I ever started with, in my opinion, the best starting XI,” Ten Hag mentioned. “There was at all times accidents.
Rasmus Hojlund has featured twice since becoming a member of Man Utd from Atalanta however is but to discover the online
“We always got results apart from the period we are in now. I have experienced it in the past and managed it. You have to deal with it. I like these situations because you have to handle it and know what to do, and that is focusing on the process.”
The United boss is already below scrutiny, and issues might get much more uncomfortable if his side suffers defeat in opposition to the six-time European champions in one of many standout fixtures of the opening week.
United have misplaced three of their opening 5 Premier League video games, together with final weekend’s 3-1 dwelling reverse in opposition to Brighton.
Sam Blitz is joined by Peter Smith on ‘The Question’ as they check out the numerous issues surrounding Manchester United’s turbulent season.
“The doctors are dealing with the problems,” he added. “First of all, injuries always come in top football because we are living on the edge.
“Of course, we analyse why issues occur, however we even have to take care of the consequences. We have to get the best out of it. We want to make the following step, integrating Rasmus Hojlund and Sergio Reguilon.”
Ten Hag’s belief about their path is why he is not getting thrown off kilter by the negativity heading into United’s first Champions League match in 18 months.
“No, we do not really feel that we’d like a reset,” the former Bayern Munich reserve boss said. “Absolutely not. We are in a course of and what you see is that in elements of video games we play superb however then additionally in elements of video games we performed under our ranges.”
Kane: Teams in poor type may be harmful
England captain Harry Kane defends worldwide teammate Harry Maguire after current criticism.
While Harry Kane has scored 4 targets already within the Bundesliga and Bayern are stage on factors with leaders Bayern Leverkusen, he has warned in opposition to studying an excessive amount of into United’s contrasting type.
The striker, who performed in 5 Champions League campaigns with Tottenham earlier than signing for Bayern in the summertime, mentioned underestimating United can be harmful.
“They’ve been going through a tough spell recently but sometimes that can make a team dangerous because they want to respond,” Kane, who was reportedly a previous goal for at Old Trafford, instructed reporters.
“We’re at home and want to control the game but we need to be careful of their threat.
“I do not take into consideration type as a result of each recreation may be completely different. There may be massive response from groups going via a troublesome spell.”
Kane and co might heap extra strain on slow-starting Man Utd
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
There can be one thing of a ‘this is what you possibly can have received’ feeling for Man Utd supporters watching Harry Kane face up in opposition to their side in Bayern Munich colors on Wednesday.
With a striker Erik ten Hag’s high precedence in the summertime switch window, United’s need to signal the England captain was no secret. But funds and Tottenham’s choice not to promote to a Premier League rival proved problematic.
Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel hails the affect that summer season signing Harry Kane has made on the membership.
Now an in-form Kane might add to their mounting early-season issues in Bavaria. Defensive and attacking numbers are on the decline for Ten Hag’s males, off-field points are multiplying and a return of three defeats from their first 5 Premier League video games has alarm bells ringing.
If the loss at dwelling to Brighton on Saturday was a actuality test, the concern is Bayern might deal an much more damaging blow to their morale and expectations for this season.
Harry Kane admits there have been talks between various golf equipment for his signature through the summer season, however he insists he’s very joyful he selected Bayern Munich.
The return to the Champions League has been craved after a season away. This is the place Man Utd really feel they belong. But except there is a important step-change in opposition to Kane and co, issues may very well be about to get much more troublesome for Ten Hag’s travelling side in Munich.
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