Coaching Manchester United swimming with hands tied – Erik Ten Hag on injury woes after loss against Arsenal

Manchester United’s horrid season continued as they suffered a 1-0 loss against Arsenal at the Old Trafford on Sunday. Leandro Trossard scored in the 20th minute of the game for the Gunners to give them three crucial points as the title race intensifies.

The Red Devils had 55% possession whereas they took 14 shots, two of them came on target. However, Ten Hag rued injury woes and said he hasn’t had a full-strength team which has made his coaching role like swimming with hands tied behind his back.

Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, and Mason Mount missed the game due to their respective injuries.

“Any manager can always do something better, but I am two years here and I had only one time the full group of players, and you cannot progress a team with so many injuries,” Ten Hag said. “It is like swimming with your hands behind your back. You have to keep your head above water and we are trying to do that.

“It shouldn’t be like this, but I return to all the problems we have and you then analyse the performance. You have to see that we were competitive, but that is not what you want, of course; we have to win, we have to win every game.

“But at the moment, we are not at this position and definitely not this team with the injuries.”

United can seal their Europa League qualification by beating derby rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final but it will be a herculean task for Ten Hag’s men.

Ten Hag said it would be devastating for United to miss out on Europe altogether for the first time in 10 years.

“It is very damaging,” he said. “That is the situation we are in, but still we can get there. We have the opportunities to take them and fight, even when the problems are massive, everyone knows this.

“We have to deserve it, especially the fans, they follow us on Monday [at Crystal Palace], they understand the position we are in. Today they are behind us from the first whistle, they see the team needs backing and support, so we are united and that is very good.”

Manchester United will next take on Newcastle United on Wednesday at Old Trafford.