Manchester United have been plagued with injuries across the summer and since the season began.
A new player has been added to the ever-growing list almost every week since the Red Devils kicked off their campaign in August, and Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo were ruled out before opening day – though the latter has just returned to individual training.
Mason Mount and Raphael Varane were also spotted back in this morning’s team session at Carrington but the pair were not deemed fit enough to make the 21-man squad for tomorrow’s Bayern Munich clash. Nor were Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire or Sofyan Amrabat, who arrived at the club with a fitness issue.
Such absences have been reflected in the club’s results thus far; two wins and three losses have come from United’s opening five games, marking a concerning start to the campaign for Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag opens up on injury woes
The manager has assured that he, and the board, prepared for any selection issues by adding depth to the squad across the past windows. He said in tonight’s pre-match press conference (via ManUtd.com): “It is a concern. That is why we knew that before, when we constructed the squad with that, so we can deal with it. The squad can deal with it.
“One thing is true, from the start last season, I almost never started with the best, in my opinion, starting XI,” he added. “You have to deal with it and we always got the results in, apart from now.”
“That is football and I have the experience from the past, it is always going up. You have to deal with it and I like this situation, as you have to deal with it and manage it. You must focus on the process. The doctors are dealing with the injury problems.
“Injuries are always coming in top football because we are living on the edge. Of course, we analyse why things happen, but we have to deal with the facts. It is always about the players who are available and how best we line up.”
