THE TEN COM MANDMENTS
IT’S LOOKING REALLY ROUGH FOR RAFA NOW Boss says Reds must beef up the squad for next season as they are too inconsistent We must get a striker... in fact we need two in each position for PL and Europe
FEARS are growing at Manchester United that defender Raphael Varane will join Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Varane, 29, was taken off at half-time during United’s Europa League clash with Sevilla 10 days ago after inflicting further damage to an ankle that has been giving him problems for the last month. And he will once again be missing today when the Reds take on Brighton in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Varane has had scans on his ankle after the initial swelling finally started to subside – and the verdict was that he could be out for up to six weeks. That would rule him out of United’s last eight Premier League games. Erik ten Hag would have to put his faith in Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof to help get his team over the line in their quest for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. United’s medical staff remain hopeful Varane could still recover in time for the FA Cup Final should United beat Brighton.
But, with Martinez carried off at home against Sevilla with a broken metatarsal, which has required surgery, it means Ten Hag is currently without both of his first-choice centre-backs. Maguire and Lindelof were part of a shambolic second-half display as United crashed out of Europe with a 3-0 defeat in Seville on Thursday night. And, with Maguire suspended for the game at Wembley, it is likely that left-back Luke Shaw will be asked to partner Lindelof. Ten Hag views Varane’s combination with Martinez as the best he has at his disposal. The 29-year-old Frenchman has shown some imperious form this season. But he has been plagued by a number of injuries since he arrived in a £29million deal from Real Madrid two seasons ago. He suffered an ankle problem in the run-up to the World Cup, where he helped France reach the final before they were beaten on penalties by Argentina. Varane has since retired from international football – despite being in line to become his country’s next captain – in a bid to protect himself from injury.
ERIK TEN HAG has told his Manchester United bosses that landing a top striker must be the priority – after admitting his dream scenario is to have two players for every position.
United are flying on fumes as they go into today’s FA Cup semi-final, with Ten Hag’s squad hit by injuries, suspension, fatigue – and a lack of depth that the Dutchman insists has to be addressed in the summer. His plans for next season are also being hampered by the lack of clarity on who will own the club after the Glazer family invited takeover bids and investment offers in December. Ten Hag’s first season in charge has already brought in the Carabao Cup and the likelihood of a return to the Champions League. But Thursday night’s Europa League surrender against Sevilla and the lack of options left open to him for the clash with Brighton at Wembley have highlighted the need to splash the cash in the transfer market. Ten Hag has made it clear that he is desperate for more firepower. He said: “We have to acknowledge that, especially in the frontline, we had problems during the whole season because we just didn’t have the numbers there. “If the squad is so strong that you have in every position double the same quality, then it’s good. “I think we have rotated during the whole season, but this season is crazy with the World Cup in between because many of our players went there. Then we played an extra round in the Europa League, so maybe we played the most games of all teams across Europe.
“The frontline, for instance. It hasn’t often played the same, because of injuries and suspensions. I think the players are, to a certain point, very capable and we have players in the squad who can really take the
load of so many games. But when you play a lot of games – and the load is getting higher – you need to rotate because you have to keep the players fit and fresh.
“Then you look to the next game and you have to take decisions in a tactical approach or in a personal approach.
“Sometimes I can go strong in certain situations – but it’s about the timing of when to use it.”
United have lost Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez through injury and skipper Harry Maguire is suspended for the Brighton clash.
That means left-back Luke Shaw is likely to partner Victor Lindelof this afternoon in central defence.
Alejandro Garnacho is also sidelined and, although top scorer Marcus Rashford recovered his fitness enough to be used as a substitute against Sevilla, there are more concerns about Anthony Martial.
Ten Hag has identified Harry Kane as the man he wants to lead United’s attack next season.
But the Tottenham striker will come at a cost in excess of £100million.
And there must also be further reinforcements if United are to continue their progress under the Dutchman.
Ten Hag said: “I hope everyone sees that we have made progress, that we have developed.
“We are a different team now. I think, as I said, we have made progress.
“But also we know that we have more steps to go – and that’s quite clear.
“But one of the things that we haven’t had is the opportunity to play so often with the same team.
“When you miss players, you have to find solutions and you look for the best solution for the moment.
“You have to look short term, but also, of course, in the longer term as well.
“In this moment, when you play a semi-final, you only have one opportunity – so you’re looking for the best team for that moment.”