After his team lost 1-0 to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, their ninth home loss of the season in all competitions, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag blamed the Old Trafford club’s injury crisis for a dismal season.
Marcus Rashford, the playmaker, Bruno Fernandes, and at least six defenders were sidelined due to injury for United, who have now tied their record for the most home losses in a season.
Ten Hag’s team has already conceded 82 goals this season in all competitions, their most in a single campaign since 1970–71. Ten Hag has been forced to play defensive midfielder Casemiro at center-back in recent games.
Ten Hag stated on the club website, “I don’t know where we should be when we had all the players on board, but if there are players all on board, then you will get more points.”
“You will (have) more consistency, especially in the backline, because yeah, now we concede a lot of chances, a lot of goals, and last year we had the most clean sheets in the Premier League.
“We are trying to keep our heads above the water line because, in certain crucial areas, it’s like swimming with your hands behind your back and you can’t advance a team that way.”We are still in the cup final, which is fantastic, but fit players are needed if you want to advance as a team. As you saw with our opponent today, the only player who was unavailable was Arsenal. We had an abundance of them.
United are eighth in the league standings with 54 points. Their remaining league fixtures include a home game against sixth-placed Newcastle United on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
On May 25, they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
The Dutchman claimed that after losing 4-0 at Crystal Palace the previous week, his team played significantly better against Arsenal, who went on to win the league after the game.
“All I can do is smile. And I believe it’s a credit to our team that the players who participated gave it their all, were fiercely competitive, and engaged in combat. And you see that you can achieve an outcome,” he stated.
