Manager Erik ten Hag Affirms Before Nottingham Forest Match

 Manager Erik ten Hag Affirms Before Nottingham Forest Match

Manager Erik ten Hag Affirms Before Nottingham Forest Match(Image-Getty)

Manchester United's current challenges aren't attributed to the midfield trio of Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and Casemiro," clarified manager Erik ten Hag in anticipation of their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest.

United, having secured three points from two games, displayed unconvincing performances in a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

Criticism arose, with pundit and former United captain Gary Neville suggesting that Ten Hag's decision to deploy Mount and Fernandes in advanced roles placed excessive defensive responsibilities on Casemiro. Casemiro also faced scrutiny for his perceived lack of fitness.

Ten Hag addressed these concerns regarding United's midfield arrangement, stating, "Accurate analysis is crucial. The assessment is inaccurate. The vulnerability was in the defensive and offensive fronts, not the midfield. We clarified this right after the match."

The manager went on to defend Casemiro's fitness, pointing to his performance statistics. He expressed confidence in the capabilities of the midfielders, asserting that they can handle the responsibilities.

United encountered two injury setbacks in the past week, sidelining Mount and Luke Shaw. Additionally, Rasmus Hojlund, a significant signing, has been unable to debut due to a back injury, causing him to miss matches against Tottenham and Wolves.

Addressing the injury situation, Ten Hag revealed, "Injuries are unfortunate, but we are equipped to manage them. Rasmus Hojlund won't be available for tomorrow; he recently joined team training for the first time. Next week, we expect him to complete a full week, bringing him closer to joining the squad."

Shaw's injury posed a challenge for the left-back position, compounded by Tyrell Malacia's absence due to a previous season injury. Nevertheless, Ten Hag assured that the club had accounted for such scenarios, stating, "(Mason Mount and Luke Shaw) will be absent for a certain period. Luke's absence will be longer than Mason's. Tyrell Malacia will require a few weeks; we have solutions within our squad."

On Monday, United parted ways with Mason Greenwood following an investigation into allegations of attempted rape, although charges against the forward were dropped in February. In response, Greenwood denied the accusations in a statement to British media.

Regarding this matter, Ten Hag abstained from commenting on Greenwood, focusing instead on the team's objectives. He emphasized his commitment to the team and the players currently available.