MY TRAIN DOESN’T MAKE THE STRAIN
Injury-hit Ten Hag defends his methods saying: I don’t overload my players... I just get them fit
ERIK TEN HAG has told his Manchester United players they must be tough enough to withstand the rigours of the Premier League – and denied he trains them too hard.
United’s push for a Champions League place has been sabotaged by more than 50 separate injuries this season.
One reason put forward for United’s chronic injury list, which includes Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez ( far right), Victor Lindelof (right), Tyrell Malacia, Anthony Martial and Altay Bayindir, is the intensity of training under Ten Hag
But the Dutchman rejected the claim, insisting: “No, we don’t train too hard. We need to be fit. With the standards in this league you need to be fit, otherwise you can’t match the standards required of you in a game. We don’t train too hard. We have said there are others within his good departments, we have good squad who are just as tough, both people around with a lot of physically and mentally. knowledge. We make our CHELSEA: “We have players who decisions based on Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, are very robust like data. Silva, Cucurella, Caicedo, Bruno is,” said Ten
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“You need very Hag. “But that is the
Sterling, Jackson robust players. type of player you That is the need in your team.” requirement when Ten Hag you go into suggested fixture Christmas with many overload was to injuries and then you blame for some injuries have to bring them back. this season, but United
“When they are free from injury have played only 13 games in 2024 they are not match-fit. They need compared to 22 at this stage last games to get back into the rhythm.”
United skipper Bruno
Fernandes has not missed a game through injury this season, playing through the pain barrier and always making himself available.
Ten Hag hailed his captain as the example for players to follow, but
Onana, Wan-bissaka, Varane,
Maguire, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Mctominay, Garnacho, Hojlund
REF: Jarred Gillett
TV: TNT Sports season. “I know it still has an effect, the huge amount of games we have had in the last 18 months,” added the United boss.
“That still has an impact on our squad, the accumulation on the players.
“You saw last weekend when Manchester City played without Kyle Walker and John Stones. The levels dropped without them.
“We have international breaks five times a year. With some national teams we have a very good connection and manage the programmes, but there are others that do what they want.
“You don’t have any say in what they do there.”
United travel to Chelsea tonight looking to complete the double over the Londoners.
Two goals from Scott Mctominay earned them a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in December.