'Survival of the fittest' - Erik ten Hag worried about injuries to 'vulnerable' Manchester United ahead of new season
Published 27/07/2024 at 12:55 GMT+1
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has described his side as 'vulnerable' and needing to 'catch up on squad depth' after an injury-rocked Premier League campaign. The Red Devils have signed Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee this summer in a bid to shore up the squad and are keen on further signings. Ten Hag's side finished eighth last year and often had several first-team players out of action.
'We have to catch up' – Ten Hag admits lack of squad depth
Video credit: SNTV
Erik ten Hag has described Manchester United as “vulnerable” and needing to “catch up on squad depth” to avoid a similar injury crisis to last season’s.
United finished eighth in the Premier League last season, their worst finish of the modern era, and suffered numerous injuries to first-team players.
The manager described the league as “survival of the fittest” and insisted that his side needed strength in depth to be competitive.
“When everyone is fit we have a team who can beat everyone, but the squad depth we have to catch up because we had injuries,” he said.
“We are vulnerable and we have to avoid this by getting less injuries, and second, our squad has to be that good. The quality we have in depth, we have to catch up, but even more because this season will be the survival of the fittest.”
United have already bolstered their squad by signing 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro from Lille in a £52 million deal and forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, with Ten Hag particularly looking to strengthen defensively and in midfield.
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The Red Devils have been linked to young Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, while Jadon Sancho’s future with the club remains uncertain.
Ten Hag described Yoro and Zirkzee as “two very good buys” but warned last year’s injury crisis could happen again. Players including Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw were out for months, and at points the entire first XI were missing.
“The players have to work in the right way because the standards are so high and you have to fulfil them, the highest standards, not only on game day but every day,” he added.
Ten Hag was speaking ahead of the Red Devils' pre-season friendly against Arsenal on Saturday at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. His side have had a mixed start to their pre-season tour, losing 1-0 to Norwegian side Rosenborg before defeating Rangers 2-0 last week.
The Dutchman said there were “so many reasons” for the long list of injuries his players suffered: “The amount of games. The fixture list. The load on the players, the pressure on the players is so high and we are not the only team with so many injuries, we were not even the worst.”
In fact, United were the worst affected all Premier League clubs last season on one metric, recording 45 separate injuries.
“Also, bad luck,” he added. “We had them at the end of the season in the back four and it cost us a lot of points.”
The manager was keen to move on from the difficult end to last season and frequent speculation over his future. New owners Ineos had been looking for a replacement manager before extending the Dutchman's contract until the summer of 2026.
“We are now in a new season, we left everything behind, we are looking forward,” he said. “It’s a great project. We go with ups and downs… now we are very energised, looking forward, we want to work and we want to win.
“I never think if I’m in a strong position or weak position. I want to collaborate, I can’t do this on my own. [If] players, staff, leadership, everyone [helps] I’m sure we will have even more success.”
After playing Arsenal, United will also face Liverpool and Real Betis before heading to Wembley on 10 August for the Community Shield against Manchester City. In one of the few highlights of last season Ten Hag's side triumphed against the Premier League champions to win the FA Cup.
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