Man United to open investigation into this season’s deepening injury crisis after losing Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof for a month with Erik ten Hag bemoaning heavy fixture schedule
- Ten Hag fell short at the back after setbacks from Lindelof and Martinez
- Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane are expected to replace the trip to Chelsea
- Have a day off, Pep! Guardiola’s lecture to Grealish at Etihad pitch was unnecessary, says Ian Ladyman – It all starts
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United have launched an internal investigation into their debilitating injury list this season after defenders Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof became the latest victims.
United have suffered constant setbacks throughout the season, with downtrodden boss Ten Hag often unable to field his strongest line-up.
The crisis worsened this week when defenders Martinez and Lindelof were ruled out for a month with calf and hamstring injuries respectively, while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia were sidelined.
Asked why United had so many injuries, Ten Hag said on Wednesday: “We have an idea, but we will work on it internally and deal with it.”
Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans have eased United’s injury problems at the back ahead of Thursday’s Premier League visit to Chelsea.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says the club is investigating the pile-up of injuries the team has suffered this season
Victor Lindelof is sidelined again as Manchester United’s injury problems persist
Lisandro Martinez is also on the sidelines, having only just returned from injury
Varane also left during the break but has recovered in time to face Chelsea, and Evans also returns after missing the last two games with a calf injury.
There was more good news for United as Harry Maguire, who replaced Varane at Brentford despite doubts about his fitness, trained on Tuesday.
“There are no more problems, we don’t need them!” said Ten Hag. “In the front line and in midfield we are okay and we have options there, but at the back line we have a lack of options.
‘The great thing is that Rapha Varane and Jonny Evans are training again this afternoon. Yesterday Harry Maguire was back in training.’
Ten Hag blames United’s persistent injuries on an ‘overload’ of matches and points out that other Premier League teams have also suffered from this.
“You can’t prevent it, it’s not just us who have had this,” he added. ‘The standards of the Premier League from an intensity perspective are so high, the overload of the schedule, the international football is so big and we have internationals in our squad.
‘Man City, Liverpool and Newcastle have problems, many other teams. We don’t train because we recover and then you move on to the next match.’
Harry Maguire has been troubled by injuries this season, but will be fit for Chelsea on Thursday
Luke Shaw has had more problems with injuries with United at left-back
