Erik ten Hag, the manager of the team, has shared unfortunate news regarding two of his key players, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, who are facing extended periods on the sidelines due to injuries. Casemiro, the Brazilian midfielder, and Lisandro Martinez, the Argentinian defender, are both currently grappling with injuries that are expected to keep them out of action for an extended period. In a recent press conference, Ten Hag revealed that these injuries are serious and doesn’t anticipate their return until after Christmas, implying a recovery period of several weeks.
Lisandro Martinez’s injury woes began with a metatarsal fracture back in April, and he returned to action at the start of the season. Unfortunately, after just six appearances, he required further surgery to address the lingering issues with his injury. On the other hand, Casemiro, who has had a turbulent season, recently suffered a hamstring injury during a Carabao Cup match against Newcastle.
This news is undoubtedly a significant setback for Ten Hag, who had acquired both players in the summer of 2022 and saw them evolve into two of the most influential figures in his squad last season.
However, amidst these gloomy injury updates, there is a more positive development concerning Marcus Rashford. The striker missed Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Fulham but is now available for their upcoming Champions League match against FC Copenhagen. Ten Hag confirmed Rashford’s readiness and praised his commitment to the team, mentioning that he had been working hard in training to regain his form.
Looking ahead to the match, Rasmus Hojlund, Rashford’s striking partner, is returning to the Danish capital, where he previously played for FC Copenhagen from 2020 to 2022. While Hojlund has scored three times in the Champions League, he has yet to find the back of the net in his first eight Premier League appearances. Ten Hag believes that the entire team needs to improve their possession and chance creation to provide more opportunities for their attacking players to score goals.
Regarding Hojlund’s situation, Ten Hag acknowledged the young player’s determination to improve and his strong work ethic in training. He expressed confidence that Hojlund’s goal-scoring fortunes will change with time.
Another United attacker, Brazilian winger Antony, has struggled to find his form this season, failing to score or provide an assist. Ten Hag noted that Antony’s rhythm was disrupted by a brief absence due to injury but emphasized the importance of hard work to regain his form.
Ten Hag understands the high expectations from Manchester United fans and the demand for the team to perform at their best. He believes that there is room for improvement and expressed confidence that the team will play better as they regain their best form.
