Erik Ten Hag has opened up on the key players from his side that would not be available for the highly anticipated Fenerbache vs Man United fixture.
Ten Hag has more woes as they journey to Turkey ahead of the clash. They must win the Fenerbache vs. Man United Europa League fixture without key players to the first team. Their midfield situation is a major cause of concern for not only the fans but also the manager, whose future at the club is uncertain.
When asked about the impact of the missing players on the rest of the team, Ten Hag remained confident as he said, “The players who are available have to do the job and they are capable of doing the job. I think we have enough players in the team that are so experienced. Our team is so experienced. We’ve faced such situations more often. I think we’re looking forward, I think it will be a great ambience that’s fuel for the team and it’s a real challenge, it’s a motivation, it’s really good for us.”
Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Dan Gore, and Toby Collyer are all sidelined due to injury. Their captain, Bruno Fernandes, is suspended. Man United finds itself a few key players short in the middle, and this has caused Ten Hag to rely heavily on Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, and Christian Eriksen to bring experience into the game and also create magic at the centre of the game.
Their midfield appears to be a cause of concern for the manager and the fans, as in defence, United are also missing a few players. Jonny Evans, who played a key role in United’s win against Brentford, has not trained since he picked up an injury in that match. Other defenders including Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, and Leny Yoro happen to be long-term absentees from the squad.
Harry Amass and Habeeb Ogunneye, both teenage defenders, have been called up to the squad as a result of the injury worries. Both Amass, 17, and Ogunneye, 18, have not yet made their senior debuts despite being named on the bench at the end of the previous season. The team’s defence is under a lot of pressure, so these young guys might have a chance to show off their abilities on a higher playing field.
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