Erik ten Hag has launched a defence of his gamers, claiming Wayne Rooney was unsuitable to counsel some members of his Manchester United squad are refusing to play.
Talking as a particular visitor on Tremendous Sunday, Rooney stated he’s “100 per cent” satisfied that a few of United’s injured gamers are match sufficient to play, leaving supervisor Ten Hag to “take all the stick” for poor performances.
United had 10 injured gamers for his or her 1-0 loss at house to Arsenal, which leaves them rooted to eighth place, heading in the right direction for his or her lowest-ever Premier League end and operating the chance of lacking out on European soccer altogether subsequent season.
Beneath Ten Hag this season, United have misplaced 19 video games in all competitions, their most since 1978-79, whereas Sunday’s loss to the Gunners was their ninth loss at Outdated Trafford this time period, their joint-most at house in a season.
Requested if United’s gamers are presently enjoying for Ten Hag, Rooney informed Sky Sports activities: “If they’re, I do not suppose they’re exhibiting it very nicely. The performances, and there are some good gamers in that squad, are means under par.
“As we have a look at the accidents they’ve picked up, a few of these gamers can play, 100 per cent.
“When you could have the European Championship developing and an FA Cup remaining, it is simple for gamers to remain out of it a bit of bit, get again for the ultimate and ensure they’re prepared for the European Championship. I’ve seen it myself through the years.
“The players who are injured are not filling themselves in any credit at the minute. The manager is going to take all the stick for that.”
However, talking at his press convention on Tuesday forward of the go to of Newcastle United to Outdated Trafford, Ten Hag has insisted that his gamers will at all times make themselves out there for choice supplied they’re match.
“You have to see here in Carrington, the players are desperate to play,” stated the beleaguered Dutchman.
“Bruno [Fernandes] did a fitness test on Sunday to play and [Marcus] Rashford did everything he could do. Players are desperate to play. [Victor] Lindelof and [Raphael] Varane are training to make themselves available for the final. They do what they can do.”
Bruno Fernandes has been lacking from the aspect
Ten Hag was with out first-team regulars Fernandes, Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Lindelof, Varane, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, whereas Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial are long-term absentees.
Scott McTominay returned to the beginning line-up on Sunday after harm, whereas Ten Hag revealed earlier within the week that Argentina defender Martinez had been pleading to play after recovering from a calf drawback.
Martinez again in rivalry to face Newcastle
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Erik Ten Hag stubbornly dismissed additional questions linking Bruno Fernandes with a summer time exit and careworn what a giant participant he’s for Manchester United
Manchester United declined to reply to Rooney’s feedback when contacted by Sky Sports activities Information. Ten Hag has confirmed that Martinez is about to return to the squad to tackle Newcastle.
The important thing Argentina centre-back has managed simply 11 appearances since breaking his metatarsal final April, compounding the problems dealing with a Pink Devils defence beset by accidents.
Martinez underwent foot surgical procedure for the second time in October having returned for the beginning of the season, then was laid low by knee and calf accidents upon his return.
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Leandro Trossard’s strike sunk Manchester United as Arsenal received at Outdated Trafford
The latter difficulty has saved Martinez out for the previous six weeks, however the centre-back is about to carry United by returning to the squad for his or her remaining house match of the season.
“Licha Martinez, I think he will return to the squad,” Ten Hag stated. “He’s done some sessions with us, and we plan for him to be available if this afternoon everything goes right in training. He will return to the squad.
“Then for another gamers, we now have to see: (Marcus) Rashford, Bruno (Fernandes), Willy Kambwala, if they’re match sufficient.”
Keane: Not a good sign | Merson: Injuries not an excuse
Andre Onana has been saved very busy this season
Responding to Rooney’s claims, Sky Sports activities pundit Roy Keane stated: “That’s not a good sign. You hope players who are carrying injuries are desperate to get back to playing football.
“There are at all times a couple of gamers at each membership who drag their heels with a couple of accidents. However different gamers, actually ones I performed with, they’ll try to knock every week or two off that.
“That’s always a worry, but that goes on at lots of clubs, where they have a lack of confidence and they’re out of it, and they don’t rush back to be with the team. “
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Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Paul Merson give their tackle Manchester Utd’s horrible season and talk about whether or not Erik ten Hag is the fitting individual to maneuver the membership ahead
Former Arsenal midfielder and Sky Sports activities’ Paul Merson additionally weighed in on the controversy, insisting United are nonetheless not adequate to compete on the high degree with or and not using a fully-fit squad.
“You can have 10 or 11 injuries, Luton have had 10 or 11 injuries. Chelsea have got 10 or 11 injuries, big players like Reece James who is the first choice and the captain of the club. And Chelsea are still going to finish above them,” Merson stated.
“Newcastle will come here and win this week. I don’t care how many of them get fit next season, there’s no way Manchester United will finish above Arsenal next season. No chance. They’re 30 points behind.
“There have been 15 United workers on the market warming up the gamers – simply as many workers as gamers. If I wish to play, the physio is not going to inform me I am not enjoying.
“I played over 700 football matches. If I played 100 games at 100 per cent, I’d be shocked. I was having injections, taking tablets, I wanted to play football. I wasn’t going to listen to someone else tell me I can’t play.”
Rooney: Man Utd ought to give Ten Hag time
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag remained upbeat regardless of their 1-0 loss to Arsenal and believes his workforce are nonetheless preventing for a profitable finish to the marketing campaign
So as to qualify for Europe subsequent season, United should end within the high seven – they usually lie three factors behind Chelsea in that place with simply two rounds of fixtures left – or beat Manchester Metropolis on this month’s FA Cup remaining at Wembley.
After the loss to Arsenal, Ten Hag was content material with the “attitude” and the competitiveness his aspect confirmed towards the title-chasing Gunners – and believes that the United supporters are behind him.
However Rooney believes a few of United’s gamers are “just trying to get to the end of the season”.
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“I think the players have to look at themselves, when you’ve got a manager talking about attitudes and players not being right to play for Manchester United, that’s a massive insult. If I see my manager saying that, there’s no way I would let that ride and ride until the end of the season,” Rooney stated.
“I think some players are just trying to get to the end of the season, that’s my opinion on it. So I feel for him, but that’s his job to make sure the players are right.”
Requested what that end result means for the way forward for Ten Hag, Rooney added: “When you’re losing games in the way they’re losing games, there’s going to be big questions asked.
“I might personally hope they do give him [Ten Hag] time, there are numerous issues with recruitment, it hasn’t been good for a couple of years.
“I hope he gets time to do it right. But we saw it in 2016 when Louis van Gaal lost his job [after winning the FA Cup], so you never know.”
Keane: United so unhealthy | Merson: A stunning show
Discussing the end result, former United captain Keane was vital of Ten Hag’s assault, which did not profit from having 14 photographs – three greater than Arsenal – and 145 touches within the remaining third.
“The disappointment for me in the last half an hour was United. Arsenal have come to Old Trafford over the years and found it difficult, but I bet Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad United were,” Keane stated.
“No matter bits of possession that they had, the tip product and lack of high quality – you discuss concerning the nice groups United had through the years, the gamers they’ve had. That final half an hour, decision-making, no person digging anyone out, making errors, falling over, not placing calls for on one another.
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Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney and Paul Merson replicate on Arsenal’s successful objective and the way Manchester United’s Casemiro performed an enormous half by enjoying Kai Havertz onside
“That United team there… they’re so bad.”
United got here into the sport with 10 injured gamers lacking – however Merson believes Ten Hag’s aspect ought to nonetheless be doing higher.
“It was shocking,” stated Merson about United’s show. “They just had 145 touches in the final third, and two shots on target. One was from Casemiro from 40 yards which I could have saved it.
“It isn’t adequate, you may’t lose 9 video games at house, that is Manchester United.”
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