Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag says he’s “by no means” capable of choose his strongest XI due to squad inconsistencies and accidents.
Talking forward of United’s journey to the Allianz Area to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday, the Dutchman defined he was involved by his squad’s damage report, with as much as 12 first-team gamers at the moment sidelined.
Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount are amongst these on the injured listing, with Ten Hag additionally confirming Harry Maguire will miss this week’s Champions League commitments with a “grievance”. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has additionally been misplaced for the reason that weekend.
Jadon Sancho and Antony stay unavailable as a result of respective off-field points.
Of United’s 21-man travelling squad, 4 are goalkeepers, whereas Ten Hag has solely been capable of title 5 defenders.
“One factor is true, from the beginning of final season I do not suppose I ever began with, in my view, the most effective beginning XI,” Ten Hag mentioned. “There was at all times accidents.
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Rasmus Hojlund has featured twice since becoming a member of Man Utd from Atalanta however is but to search out the online
“We at all times obtained outcomes other than the interval we’re in now. I’ve skilled it up to now and managed it. You must cope with it. I like these conditions as a result of it’s important to deal with it and know what to do, and that’s specializing in the method.”
The United boss is already beneath scrutiny, and issues might get much more uncomfortable if his facet 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.
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Sam Blitz is joined by Peter Smith on ‘The Query’ as they check out the numerous issues surrounding Manchester United’s turbulent season.
“The medical doctors are coping with the issues,” he added. “To begin with, accidents at all times are available in high soccer as a result of we live on the sting.
“In fact, we analyse why issues occur, however we additionally need to cope with the results. Now we have to get the most effective out of it. We have to make the following step, integrating Rasmus Hojlund and Sergio Reguilon.”
Ten Hag’s perception about their path is why he’s 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 previous Bayern Munich reserve boss mentioned. “Completely not. We’re in a course of and what you see is that in components of video games we play superb however then additionally in components of video games we performed under our ranges.”
Kane: Groups in poor kind will be harmful
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England captain Harry Kane defends worldwide teammate Harry Maguire after current criticism.
Whereas 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 kind.
The striker, who performed in 5 Champions League campaigns with Tottenham earlier than signing for Bayern in the summertime, mentioned underestimating United could be harmful.
“They have been going by means of a troublesome spell lately however typically that may make a staff harmful as a result of they need to reply,” Kane, who was reportedly a previous goal for at Previous Trafford, instructed reporters.
“We’re at dwelling and need to management the sport however we have to be cautious of their menace.
“I do not take into consideration kind as a result of each sport will be totally different. There will be large response from groups going by means of a tough spell.”
Kane and co might heap extra strain on slow-starting Man Utd
Sky Sports activities’ Peter Smith:
There will probably be one thing of a ‘this is what you could possibly have received’ feeling for Man Utd supporters watching Harry Kane face up in opposition to their facet 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. However funds and Tottenham’s choice to not promote to a Premier League rival proved problematic.
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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.
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Harry Kane admits there have been talks between various golf equipment for his signature in the course of the summer season, however he insists he is very completely satisfied he selected Bayern Munich.
The return to the Champions League has been craved after a season away. That is the place Man Utd really feel they belong. However until there is a vital step-change in opposition to Kane and co, issues might be about to get much more troublesome for Ten Hag’s travelling facet in Munich.