Erik ten Hag is concerned about the strain his players are being subjected to in a packed match schedule.
The Dutchman came with his heartbreak the day after it was known that both Victor Lindelöf and Lisandro Martinez are out for a month with various muscle injuries.
Ten Hag also confirmed that he has an idea of what the many injuries are due to, but says it is a topic that will be discussed internally at United.
When asked if he has had to change his training methods as a result of the many injuries, the Dutchman came up with a somewhat unexpected answer.
– We cannot change that much. We don’t really train, it’s about recovery until the next game. The Premier League is a very intense league. It’s not just us who struggle with injury problems. Liverpool do it, Manchester City and Newcastle do it too. It is too tough a program for the players, says Ten Hag.
Ten Hag was also confronted with how it is possible to go from a brilliant performance against Liverpool to a terrible performance against Brentford.
– I have been involved in football long enough to have experienced this, and you have probably been involved long enough to understand how it works. Sometimes you don’t play well, but we are Manchester United and we have to find a way to win. We were on our way to win and we can’t give away the win like we did. That was the biggest disappointment for me. But it is also important to see the development over time. Since Christmas until now, it has been positive, Ten Hag pointed out.
– Varane and Evans back in training
One player who is finally back from injury is Mason Mount who scored United’s goal against Brentford. The summer signing from Thursday’s opponents Chelsea could be a key player in United’s league push.
– Mason is a fantastic player, but he has to stay injury-free. That’s the first commandment. He has had three injuries this season. We see how Licha has had problems, and the most important thing now is to keep Mason injury-free. He will then contribute and have a big impact on the team, says Ten Hag, who expects a tough match against a particularly unstable Chelsea squad this season.
– The Premier League is a tough league. It matters a lot if you have the right players available and if you have flow. Chelsea have fantastic players and are capable of beating anyone, warns Ten Hag.
