Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, believes that his team has the necessary depth and energy to handle the demanding run-in, despite the growing number of absentees.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is confident that his side can cope with their hectic schedule despite a growing injury list. The Red Devils are currently juggling a top-four challenge in the Premier League, as well as their quest for Europa League and FA Cup glory.
Speaking ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, ten Hag emphasized the importance of utilizing his squad’s depth: “We have depth in the squad. We have to use the squad – that’s also what we did (on Thursday).”
United’s Europa League quarter-final tie with Sevilla is poised at 2-2 ahead of the second leg on Thursday, followed by a crucial FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley the following Sunday.
Ten Hag also acknowledged the importance of a tactical approach to win games during this busy period. “In the meantime, you have to win games, so also you need a tactical approach to win the games. But I think we have good players and when we have problems – so injuries, suspensions – we have depth in the squad.”
Although Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay could return to action on Sunday, the defensive duo of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are set to miss out due to injuries picked up in the first leg against Sevilla. This adds to the growing list of absentees, including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Donny van de Beek.
Despite the challenges, United will be hoping to secure a victory against Nottingham Forest for the fourth time this season and maintain their momentum in their pursuit of success in multiple competitions.