Manchester United to investigate injury crisis after double defensive blow

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says that the club have launched an internal investigation into the squad’s injury issues this term.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that the club have launched an internal investigation in a bid to get to the route of the team’s injury problems this season.
The 20-time English champions have struggled with fitness issues throughout the 2023-24 campaign, with Ten Hag having to constantly change his side due to the absence of important players.

Lisandro Martinez made his comeback from a knee injury against Brentford last weekend, but it was revealed on Tuesday evening that he had suffered a calf problem in training and was facing another month out.

Victor Lindelof, meanwhile, is also out for at least the next four weeks with the hamstring issue that he suffered in the second half of the 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Luke Shaw has been plagued by muscular problems this term, with the England international facing a battle to return to action before the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Ten Hag says issue will be dealt with “internally”

Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial are also currently on the sidelines, with the former yet to play this term, having undergone two operations on a knee injury, while the latter had groin surgery in January.

Casemiro and Harry Maguire have also had their injury problems this season, and Ten Hag has said that the club will investigate why the squad has suffered so badly this season.

“We have an idea but we will work on that internally and deal with it,” the Man United boss told reporters on Wednesday when questioned on the injury issues.

Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans have both been passed fit for Thursday’s game at Chelsea after injury worries, while Maguire is also available after recovering from the problem which he picked up while representing England against Brazil during the recent international break.

Ten Hag has also hit back at suggestions that his training methods have contributed to the injuries this term.

Ten Hag rejects criticism of his training methods
“We don’t train too hard. We need to be fit and this league, with the standard you need, you need to be fit, otherwise you cannot reach the standards that you need to compete. We do not train too hard,” the Dutchman added during his press conference.

“You need very robust players, that is the requirement. Around Christmas, we were in a situation with a load of injuries and then you have to bring them back.

“In the moment, they are then free from injury but they are not going to be match fit, they are then not straight back into their form, which needs a couple of games before you get back to the rhythm.”

Man United still have an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, currently sitting sixth in the Premier League table, nine points off fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.

The Red Devils will face Chelsea, Liverpool and Bournemouth in their next three league matches before taking on Championship outfit Coventry City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on April 21.

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