‘Disappointing’: Ten Hag reacts as Manchester United lose Yoro, Hojlund to injury

Updated 28/07/2024 at 08:21 GMT

Manchester United’s pre-season friendly against Arsenal in California on Saturday night could not have gone much worse after losing two key players to injury in Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro as well as seeing a 1-0 lead slip in a 2-1 defeat. Manager Erik ten Hag is hoping for positive news from his medical team. He will be hoping that this does not hint at another injury ravaged season.’We have to catch up’ – Ten Hag admits lack of squad depth

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is waiting for news from his medical team after seeing key players Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro withdrawn with injury during his team’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Arsenal in California on Saturday night.

Despite the triple disappointment, Ten Hag was remaining optimistic after the match.

Speaking to the Manchester United in-house television channel MUTV, Ten Hag said: “We have to wait 24 hours and then we will hopefully know more.”

Continuing, Ten Hag insisted that his medical team had taken the necessary precautions but hinted that Yoro had had a known issue.

He said: “We were very careful, especially with Leny. He did only 50% from the sessions. It is disappointing he had to come off but let’s be positive and see what comes out.”

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Hojlund had made an ideal start to the match with an impressive early goal. Taking a long ball from Marcus Rashford in stride down the United left, Hojlund battled physically with Arsenal’s Reuell Walters before nutmegging Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein.

Six minutes later though, the Dane limped off with an apparent leg injury.

Racing to meet a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Hojlund pulled up short. The Telegraph reports that the Denmark forward mouthed the word ‘hamstring’ before limping off in discomfort.

Gabriel Jesus equalised for Arsenal in the 26th minute with Yoro among the United players appealing for offside.

The French defender then appeared to injure his ankle and followed Hojlund in being withdrawn in the 34th minute.

According to the BBC, no other Premier League club suffered more injuries than Manchester United last season. A total of 45 different injuries were recorded, a tally which exceeds any club’s single-season record over the last 20 seasons of England’s top flight.

Key defender Lisandro Martinez missed a total of 214 days, while 20 other players missed at least one match.

Hojlund himself missed matches with four different issues; back, hamstring, muscle and illness, last season. New signing Yoro missed just one game last season for Lille with an adductor issue.

Ten Hag will be hoping that Hojlund and Yoro’s pre-season difficulties do not hint at another injury-disrupted season.

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