HURT BLOCKER
Ten Hag frustrated by striker woes
ERIK TEN HAG fears Manchester United’s problems up front could scupper their Champions League hopes.
His 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 all been ill or injured at some stage and Ten Hag says this is his biggest worry as he reflects on his first six months at Old Trafford.
He said: “In the front line, the availability of the players that is a concern for us. 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.”
Ten Hag is particularly frustrated by Martial’s repeated problems and he has already missed 15 games this season because of hamstring, Achilles and back injuries.
He sees him as his main striker and he showed his capabilities by scoring against Aston Villa in Thursday’s 4-2 Carabao Cup win in what was only his second start under the Dutchman. Ten Hag (inset) added: “Of course, we analyse that and he’s analysing that, what can we do to change that?
“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 minutes 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 because he’s 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.
“I like his type because Anthony can hold the ball, he’s a target, he can link up, he can run behind, he has speed, he can finish and he’s a good presser.”
Ten Hag, whose side visit Fulham tomorrow afternoon, can wrap Martial up in cotton wool because he is not in France’s World Cup squad and Jadon Sancho has also missed out on Qatar.
He feels 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. “He had some really good performances but in the last few weeks he has struggled.”