Erik ten Hag has warned Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof they must be ready to answer Manchester United's SOS – or find another club.
Maguire and Lindelof, frozen out for much of the season, will start at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with first-choice central defence pairing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both injured.
Ten Hag said he will not accept excuses from players about not being ready to step into the starting line-up and said they should not be at United if that is the case. “Every game is a battle, every game is a fight and you have to be ready for that fight,” said Ten Hag.
“We have a squad - we have more than 11 starters - so now others are on and, when their time is there, you have to show and contribute to the team, you have to be ready. That is what we expect and that is what we demand.
“If you find excuses, if you want to find excuses, you have to look for another club. When the moment is there you have to contribute and that is what we demand. We have to adapt in the squad, we have to use the squad, that is also what we did against Sevilla.
“You need a tactical approach to win the games. We have good players, but we have injuries, suspensions, so we adapt to the squad.”
Despite that warning and their lack of minutes this season, Ten Hag said he had a lot of faith in Maguire and Lindelof, who formed a regular centre-back partnership under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Asked how much belief he had in them, Ten Hag said: “A lot. They are decent centre-halves, they proved that in the past. This season, we have four or five very good centre-halves who can do the job.
“Harry played very well against Everton, played very well against Sevilla and in the coming games it's up to him. But we do have to take in mind he's suspended for the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.”
Asked if United's injury crisis was showing any signs of easing, with players returning to the squad tomorrow, Ten Hag said: “For Sunday? Yeah, it could be. But we have to see. We have two sessions to go, so I don't know now, but it could be that Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw will return to the squad. But I'm not sure.”
United have played 50 games this season, compared to Forest, who have only been involved in 37, but Ten Hag claimed it was an advantage to play every few days, rather than having a game a week. “I also see an advantage, more games, so more routines,” said Ten Hag.
“We like to play, that will give us energy, so I think there are many advantages. We want to go for silverware and we have to have energy if we are to make the season a success.”
