Erik ten Hag is worried Manchester United’s problems up front could scupper their Champions League hopes.
Ten Hag’s main target this season is to finish in the top four and he feels this is being undermined by the unavailability of his strikers. Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo have been ill or injured for parts of this season, and Ten Hag admits United struggle without them.
The Red Devils boss says this is his biggest concern as he reflects on his first six months at Old Trafford. “In the front line, the availability of the players that is a concern for us,” he said. “We had so many games, like Newcastle United, Marcus Rashford ill.
“We had to play some other games where we have to improvise to construct a proper offensive line. If you can’t do that, then it’s really difficult to get into the first four, if you don’t have the players to construct a proper offensive line.”
Ten Hag is particularly frustrated by Martial’s repeated problems and the French striker has already missed 15 games this season because of hamstring, achilles and back injuries.
He sees Martial as his main striker and he showed his capabilities by scoring against Aston Villa in Thursday’s Carabao Cup win in what was only his second start under the Dutchman. Ten Hag says the club and the player are working hard to try and limit the amount of time he spends in the treatment room.
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“Of course, we analyse that and he’s analysing that, what can we do to change that?” he said of Martial’s fitness issues. “We took some measures to do that, so it’s always when you often have injuries and illness, there is a reason.
“Sometimes it’s also bad luck and he was really in a good way and then last 10 mins in Atletico Madrid, he got an injury and that threw him really back. I’m so happy he’s back now and that we can manage him and that he stays fit because he is an important part of the squad.
“He plays very well in a lot of aspects of football, I’m happy with that, except his availability. It’s quite clear in my way of playing, I like the type that Anthony Martial is because he can hold the ball, he’s a target, he can link up, he can also run behind, he has speed, he can finish and he’s a good presser.”
Ten Hag can wrap Martial up in cotton wool because he is not in France’s World Cup squad, while Jadon Sancho has also missed out on Qatar. Ten Hag says the England winger can have no complaints because he has had a mixed start to the season.
“It’s been up and down,” he said of Sancho’s form. “He had some really good performances and I think he was going in a good direction. But the last weeks he struggled with illness and then it’s normal that you don’t get selected because every manager will only take fit players to the World Cup.”
