In response to rumours that Anthony Martial would be sold in the summer, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag claims that Martial’s fitness difficulties are his biggest problem.

The Dutch coach denied rumours that he intends to let Martial go in the summer owing to his injury issues but emphasized that the striker’s inability to maintain consistency in his team was primarily due to a lack of fitness.

“No (he does not want to get rid of Martial). If you are not available, you can’t score. When he was available we played better, the team is winning games, he’s also scoring goals but he has to be available,” Ten Hag told a press conference before United’s match at home to Chelsea on Thursday.

Due to a mix of muscular and back problems, Martial has missed 28 games this season and hasn’t played the full 90 minutes in any competition. The striker is still United’s joint-third-leading scorer in the Premier League, trailing just Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

He opened the scoring in his last home game against Wolves, leading to a 2-0 victory. Martial was brought off early in Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Bournemouth and failed to acknowledge Ten Hag, who regularly substitutes him as the first player.

Marcus Rashford, who missed the game against Bournemouth due to sickness, is expected to start against Chelsea. Due to a groin injury, he hasn’t played since the 1-0 loss against West Ham.

On Thursday, United take on Chelsea with the goal of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League with only a point.

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Bruno Fernandes has disclosed that he knew Anthony Martial would score against Wolves because the Frenchman had his haircut before the game.

On Saturday, Manchester United defeated the opposition 2-0 at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho.

Speaking to MUTV after the game, the Manchester United captain explained: “I knew he [Martial] was going to score today because he had his haircut with our barber. Every time he gets his haircut with him, he gets his goal.

“So, I will call him [the barber] every time now to go the day before the game to cut his hair because we need this Anthony. We need the Anthony that scores goals, that gives us a lot of quality on the ball and creates a lot of space for others.

“So, I’m really pleased for his goal and also for seeing [Alejandro] Garnacho getting back to the games and getting his goal too,” Fernandes added.

Reflecting on the match against Wolves, the 28-year-old emphasised the team’s determination, and ability, to execute Erik ten Hag’s gameplan on the day, saying:

“We did our job properly, and that’s why we got the three points. They [Wolves] are a really smart team, they defend really well. They are compact, it’s difficult to go through their lines. They have quality on the ball.

“They have players with pace up front and they are really good technically, so we had to be aware of the counters, we had to be aware when they had the ball, we had to have the right press on them. So, I think we did really well, [it was] a professional performance and that’s why we get the points.”

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Despite Wout Weghorst sliding to the bench, Erik ten Hag has revealed why Anthony Martial did not start for Manchester United against Brentford.

After going three Premier League matches without scoring, changes to the Red Devils’ offence were anticipated on Wednesday. Weghorst, a Dutch international who was sent out on loan in January, has contributed to those lacklustre performances by making only two attempts in 19 outings.

He was named among the substitutes against Brentford after making the starting XI in all of his previous outings, with Jadon Sancho included from the off as Marcus Rashford – who grabbed the only goal in a 1-0 win – once again being asked to lead the line as a central striker.

Explaining why fit Martial was not selected down the middle, allowing Rashford to remain on the flanks, United boss Ten Hag told reporters: “He was an option but I don’t think in this moment he is game fit enough to have a start. And there is also prevention. Obviously, when you see Anthony Martial’s record over the last years, you have to be really careful to plan it. So I don’t want to take that risk because I know when he is on the pitch he has a great impact on our performance.”

Ten Hag added, with Rashford netting his 28th goal of the season and Sancho proving once again that he can operate anywhere along the frontline: “I think also you can take in that discussion, that debate, Jadon Sancho. But I’m sure when they are three or four on the pitch we have a very good frontline. A lot of creativity, a lot of intelligence, a lot of pace, a lot of togetherness, I think then we create more, we will have more of a threat.

“And the balance of that frontline will be good. But obviously you have to play more together. So happy it looks like he (Martial) is back and hopefully he stays fit until the end of the season and we can play him. But we have seen with others we have results, we proved that, that we are there and Anthony Martial is often not available but still we are there.”

Martial, a 27-year-old French international who has had five different injuries in the 2022–23 season that have kept him out for extended periods of time, did come off the bench against the Bees in what was only his 16th appearance of the year.

United, who are still in fourth place in the Premier League standings but are tied with Newcastle in terms of points, will return to action on Saturday when they visit relegation-threatened Everton.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained how Wout Weghorst’s level of fitness has allowed him to establish himself as a constant in his starting lineup.

The United manager acknowledged that Weghorst has played so much because of Anthony Martial’s injury problems, but he also praised the physical qualities of the Dutch striker when he snapped his goalless streak in the 4-1 Europa League victory against Real Betis.

“He’s physically capable of playing a lot of games, he’s a very fit player, he recovers very good,” Ten Hag told a press conference. “I expect that he’d play a lot but obviously we have an injury to Anthony Martial so that’s the main reason he’s playing every game from start to almost finish.”

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As Cristiano Ronaldo abruptly left the team in January, Weghorst was brought in as a temporary offensive replacement. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old has ended up starting 15 straight games. His close-range strike against Betis was just his second goal for United, and it came after he had earlier missed a few great chances.

Ten Hag hailed Weghorst’s persistence and his ability to read the game.

“As you can see he is often in the right position and he fails but he keeps going and so he showed great personality and character,” added the United manager. “In this game, he could already have had his goal earlier on. He keeps focused, he keeps working, he keeps putting himself in the right position and finally he got his goal and his reward.”

Weghorst and his teammates have little time to rest before Sunday’s Premier League match against struggling Southampton.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended strikers Wout Weghorst and Anthony Martial from recent criticisms.

Loanee Weghorst, who joined the Red Devils in January, has scored just once in six games. While Martial has scored six goals in 14 games this season, he has missed much of the season due to injury.

Marcus Rashford, the only member of the team to have scored more than ten goals thus far this season, has been largely responsible for United’s productivity.

Ahead of United’s Wednesday match against rival Leeds, Ten Hag was questioned about the performance of two centre strikers and opted to come to their defence.

Regarding Weghorst, Ten Hag said: “He is the one who makes players around him play better.

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“As a team we have to work better to anticipate his movements because his movements are good, quite a lot of times he was close. He had many good actions and already a lot of good contributions to our results.

“He will score, but in the meantime do the other stuff, do it good. It is about not scoring individual but scoring from the team and the team has to win. He is doing a very good job at this moment in several aspects of football.”

Speaking on Martial, he added: “He is not always available, but also I see the other side when he is available, he was never 100 % this season but he had a big impact every time he is available, even when he is at 80, 85, 90%.

“So we do everything and Anthony Martial is doing everything. I think Anthony Martial is the player who has spent the most hours at Carrington this season, to return to recover, to get back, it is really so a pity for him that he is disappointed.

“He is not always available and we want him to be always available because that will improve our game and because routines can’t become routines when you are not always available.”

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has stated that both Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial will be available for selection against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

United have a 3-0 aggregate advantage after the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, and they have the option of bringing certain players back in.

Ten Hag told club media ahead of the pre-match press conference that United still have’some challenges’ with fitness. Sancho and Martial, though, are not among them.

“I think that Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho will return in the game squad, but Scott McTominay will still be absent” the United boss explained.

“I think also the next game [against Crystal Palace] he will be absent. We have to see how that process will go. And for the rest, I think everyone is fit.”

Sancho hasn’t played for United since being substituted 52 minutes into a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on 22 October. He was initially ruled out through illness immediately prior to the World Cup break but was then not part of the squad’s training camp in Spain in December.

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At the time, Ten Hag explained that the £73 million signing was “not fit enough” to be included, implying that Sancho had also been having mental difficulties. Two weeks ago, he returned to training with the first squad after being put on an individual fitness regimen.

Sancho missed out on the first leg against Forest last week because he was still getting fit.

Martial is also ready to return and could make his first appearance since his injury problem. Ten Hag has been a big supporter of the Frenchman this season, but a myriad of fitness issues have limited him to only 13 appearances in all competitions and no action at all since coming off at half-time in the victorious Manchester derby two and a half weeks ago.

With Cristiano Ronaldo gone, United have signed Wout Weghorst as an additional cover up front and the towering Dutchman has impressed in his early games for the club while Martial has been out.

“He is integrating really well. He is doing what I am expecting him to do. The more he plays, the more it will come,” Ten Hag said of his compatriot at Tuesday’s press conference.

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Following Wout Weghorst’s first goal for the team on Wednesday night, Manchester United legend Roy Keane praised the club’s choice to sign him on a loan this month.

Weghorst, who has started United’s last three games in all competitions in the absence of Anthony Martial, found the net to double his new team’s lead at a crucial moment in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

Weghorst struggled at Burnley in extremely difficult circumstances following a £20m transfer from Wolfsburg last January. But, in his own words, he believes he is a good fit for the system that Erik ten Hag has implemented in Manchester.

“People have been critical that he’s come to the club. That’s what he’s been brought to the club for. Huge goal for United,” former United captain Keane said on Sky Sports.

“Man Utd had to bring someone in. The manager made it clear, there was no money to spend. They lost [Cristiano] Ronaldo, questions marks about Anthony Martial’s fitness. So I can see why they gambled on [Weghorst].”

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Keane said that Weghorst may also assist Marcus Rashford to continue to have a significant influence. Last week, Weghorst’s movement in the penalty area against Crystal Palace made Bruno Fernandes‘ goal feasible.

“I don’t think he’ll be a prolific goalscorer but if he pops up with the odd important goal like that and he helps Marcus. He’s an international player – he’s no mug!” the retired midfielder said.

“The perception about him, because he struggled in a Burnley team that were having a difficult season, people kind of judge him on that. Give the guy a chance, he scored an important goal for United. Good luck to him. 

“His lack of pace can be a problem when United are trying to play on the counter-attack but they’ll need to play to his strengths. He linked up well, took his goal well.

“There’s a reason he came on loan, because he’s obviously not top level. But the important thing is that the manager knows him well. You need characters in your dressing room.”

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Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst scored his first goal for the team with a poacher’s finish in the waning seconds of the first half of the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo left in November, Weghorst, who was signed on loan from Burnley, has been filling in for Anthony Martial, who has been injured.

However, despite the general promise of his performances thus far—his mobility gave Bruno Fernandes the room to score against Crystal Palace—the towering Dutchman was still without a goal himself before kickoff at the City Ground.

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Marcus Rashford had handed United an early lead, but Weghorst’s savage strike came at a key moment as Forest erupted into life midway through the first half.

Wout Weghorst gets his first goal in a Man Utd shirt. 👹

🎥: @ESPNFC pic.twitter.com/iIwhJgJKQK

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 25, 2023

Rashford had played in Antony, for whom the ball sat up invitingly to strike. The Brazilian’s volley was poorly parried by Forest goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, standing in for the ineligible Dean Henderson on loan from United, and it bounced right into Weghorst’s path.

It was still not an easy finish. The former Wolfsburg striker had to be quick to get there first and didn’t have time to reposition his body for a conventional finish. Instead, he slashed the ball with the outside of his right foot and managed to deflect it goalward.

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Wednesday night’s 1-1 Premier League tie between Manchester United and Crystal Palace marked Wout Weghorst’s first start for the club, and he made a good first impression.

Having missed out on international teammate Cody Gakpo, Weghorst was the surprise choice for United in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s messy departure in November.

The towering Dutchman spent the first half of the season with Besiktas in Turkey but is now back in England on loan from Burnley, where he scored only twice in 20 games after joining from Wolfsburg for £20 million a year ago.

However, the situation Weghorst is in at United is very different. The Red Devils have made significant progress under Erik ten Hag, have a distinct identity for the first time in a long time, and are on the verge of mounting significant challenges despite the fact that they are still far from being a polished product.

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Weghorst has already stated that he believes he will fit well into Ten Hag’s style since he likes to press from the front and demonstrated the kind of impact he can have during his 69 minutes on the field at Selhurst Park. Weghorst chose the number 27 after his arrival because 2+7=9.

With Anthony Martial out, this looked like a player keen to impress and seemingly with a point to prove in English football. He was alert and sharp in and around the box, showed the desire to sniff out chances and impacted the game with intelligent movement as much as he did actually with the ball.

Even though Weghorst wasn’t involved in the play that resulted in United’s goal through Bruno Fernandes, the goal probably wouldn’t have been possible without him.

Weghorst made a run in the penalty area that caused many Crystal Palace players to move out of position as he followed him, creating a fantastic opening for Fernandes to enter the game as the ball was pushed wide and into the path of the advancing Christian Eriksen. With no one in his immediate vicinity and the goal looming large, the Portuguese could hardly miss from there.

Weghorst may not even need to score goals to be a valuable player for the team, aside from the obvious aerial threat he presents given his height.

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Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag has stated that he is confident that his team can compete to qualify for the Champions League this year.

Ten Hag made his remarks following Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest for the Red Devils. The result saw United move to within a point of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

“I’m not looking at other teams. I am looking at our team. I am convinced of the players’ abilities to compete with those teams,” Ten Hag said.

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United defeated Forest thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Fred.

Ten Hag has admitted there were questions ahead of the Premier League’s restart.

“You always question yourself after a break, what will be the restart. And we play a team with a back four [that has] never played together and a player who never played in a centre-back position. So if you win by three, concede no goals, you are happy with the performance,” Ten Hag added.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has emphasized the significance of adding a new striker during the forthcoming January transfer window in light of Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent departure.

Following the explosive interview he gave to TalkTV in November, Ronaldo quit Old Trafford with immediate effect. By stating he has no respect for the Dutch coach, Ronaldo damaged his relationship with Ten Hag in ways that cannot be undone.

Despite having plenty of wide forwards thanks to substantial investments in Jadon Sancho and Antony from 2021, Ronaldo and Anthony Martial were the only two players in the squad with a recognizable “number nine” position after Edinson Cavani left for Argentina in the summer. Since Romelu Lukaku in 2017, United hasn’t spent money to bring in a centre striker on a permanent move (apart from Ronaldo).

The situation has only become more urgent since Ronaldo walked away last month.

Cody Gakpo, a player who can play both on the left and in the centre, has long been coveted by United, but Liverpool acted quickly to secure a contract at an initial £37 million.

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Although the former Ajax manager is sure that United still have the ability to develop talented young forwards of their own, Ten Hag is not deluding himself into thinking that it is sufficient. However, it goes without saying that any player chosen to fill the role of “number nine” must be the appropriate one.

“Two things,” he said ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Nottingham Forest. “Impulse can come out of our own club, see [Alejandro] Garnacho, see [Anthony] Elanga, see [Facundo] Pellistri, who made a good impression at the World Cup and also in training. That is first.

“Second, yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one. The right one is a player that brings quality to the team, not just adding to the squad because that only gives you problems. You know the criteria is high here at Manchester United.”

The aforementioned Martial has had a stop-start seven years at Old Trafford. The Frenchman looked like he had finally cracked it in 2019/20 when he scored 23 goals in all competitions. But his form later deserted him and fitness troubles have also taken a toll on his numbers.

Ten Hag has spoken positively about Martial, who was loaned to Sevilla last season.

“In my way of playing I like the type [of player] Antony Martial is, because he can hold the ball. ‘He is a [also] a target, he can link up, but he can also run behind. He has speed, he can finish, and he has good pressure [presses well],” the United manager explained in November.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has addressed Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the team for the first time in public.

After criticizing the team in an interview with Piers Morgan earlier this month, Ronaldo and the Red Devils mutually decided to end his contract.

The 37-year-old accused Ten Hag of lacking respect after he tried to substitute Ronaldo late into their 2-0 win against Tottenham in October. The forward refused and ended up leaving the stadium before full-time.

Speaking in his first interview since Ronaldo’s outburst, Ten Hag was keen to move on from the saga.

“He’s gone and it’s the past. We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future,” he said.

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In his 16 appearances for United this season, Ronaldo only managed to score three goals, with just one coming in the Premier League.

Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and even the midfielder Christian Eriksen were frequently started up front by Ten Hag.

Ronaldo is now no longer playing for Portugal at the international level after Fernando Santos benched him for their World Cup match against Switzerland.

The choice was wise since Goncalo Ramos, who took Ronaldo’s place, brilliantly led the line in a 6-1 rout while scoring a hat-trick.

Although Ronaldo has dismissed rumours that he has already accepted the world-record contract offer from Al Nassr, Mp3bullet understands that he is still considering it.

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