Man Utd handed huge boost ahead of Liverpool clash that Erik ten Hag won’t have expected
Man United may have been handed some welcome injury news.
Manchester United have been handed an unexpected boost ahead of their FA Cup clash with Liverpool.
Erik ten Hag’s side will go head-to-head with their arch-rivals in a mouthwatering quarter-final at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Both sides have had their injury struggles this season, although Liverpool showed in their recent draw with Manchester City that they can still perform well without key players.
United are currently short on defenders, but it could be that one star returns to injury sooner than expected.
Lisandro Martinez has been called up to the Argentina squad for their round of international fixtures this month despite currently nursing a knee injury.
Martinez missed much of the season with a foot injury he sustained in September last year, and his return to action lasted just three Premier League games before he suffered a knee injury in early February.
United confirmed that Martinez would be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks while he recovered from a medial collateral ligament injury in his knee.
Martinez was expected to return to action in early April, but his inclusion in the Argentina squad suggests he could be back sooner.
Lisandro Martinez picking up his knee injury.
Though he is unlikely to feature against Liverpool this weekend, he could return for the Premier League outing against Brentford on March 30, and the subsequent encounters with Chelsea and Liverpool.
However, that all depends on how the 26-year-old gets on with Argentina.
It’s not clear whether Martinez will be able to feature in friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica on March 23 and 27 respectively, but manager Lionel Scaloni wanted to have him in the camp anyway.
According to the Daily Mail, United have agreed to allow Martinez to travel to the United States for the games, where he will continue his rehab.
Other reports claim that Scaloni wants Martinez in the squad irrespective of his fitness, so that he can partake in preparations for this summer’s Copa America.
Erik ten Hag slams Nottingham Forest players for ‘deliberately targeting’ Man Utd star in FA Cup clash
Bruno Fernandes provided the cross for Casemiro’s match-winning header, his 15th goal contribution of the season.
While the United captain hasn’t been at his best recently, supporters were alarmed by footage that showed the midfielder limping after the game.
Now, United boss Ten Hag has accused Forest’s players of targeting the star.
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“You saw that Forest were targeting him… so I don’t tell what [injury] he has,” Ten Hag said during his post-match press conference.
“But it was a serious injury, and then when I see serious media [criticism], they criticise him, and also on social media – that is pathetic.
“It can’t be [like that]. He has a serious injury, but he continued to play on Saturday and now he fought to be part of this game, he has a very high pain threshold.”
Fernandes was a doubt for the game with a knock but played the full 90 minutes.
The 29-year-old joined United from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, but remarkably he’s still never missed a game for Man United through injury.
Ten Hag will be sweating on the fitness of his captain as United prepare for a daunting trip to neighbours Manchester City on Sunday.
United, 15 points behind City in the Premier League table, are already without the likes of Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Rasmus Hojlund for the game at the Etihad Stadium, while Harry Maguire is a doubt after missing the trip to Nottingham.
Published Mar 2, 2024, 18:01:22 GMT
Last updated Mar 2, 2024, 18:02:06 GMT
Liverpool star Cody Gakpo has confirmed he held talks with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Gakpo joined the Reds in a £35.4 million deal in January 2023, signing a five-year contract.
But he was heavily linked to United before that, specifically in the summer window when compatriot Ten Hag took the reins at United.
There was strong interest from United and Gakpo has revealed that he spoke to Ten Hag and club representatives over a potential move.
However, a move did not materialise and United splashed out £86 million on Antony from Ajax.
And having won his first trophy with the club last week, Gakpo has no regrets over the move he made.
“I think it was the summer before [I joined Liverpool] that I was in contact with the club [United],” he told Sky Sports.
“I spoke to the manager [Ten Hag] from them as well, obviously, he’s Dutch so yeah, I spoke to him as well.
“But at the end, it didn’t go through and that’s just it. In the winter, Liverpool came… best decision for me.”
He’s been part of a side struggling with injuries and having to use a number of young players as a result, namely in the Carabao Cup final.
Gakpo hailed Klopp for galvanising the group even with such a difficult situation.
“One of Klopp’s specialities is giving us that belief we can do it, even though we’re having a tough time with injuries, without us having some really good players that are really important for the team,” Gakpo continued.
“We have managed through the situation, that’s because of the young players who have come in, the manager, his staff and the fans – the togetherness, this total picture, it gets us through.”
Liverpool are now four points clear at the top of the league after a last-gasp win over Nottingham Forest.
Erik ten Hag has demanded a Premier League club apologise to a Manchester United star over a ‘pathetic’ social media post.
With so many of his Man United players sidelined through injury, the treatment some of his players have been receiving on the pitch has been on Ten Hag’s mind.
After United secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals by beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Wednesday evening, the Dutch manager accused the opposition players of ‘targeting’ his captain.
Ten Hag revealed that Fernandes has been playing through an injury in recent games, and described criticism of the 29-year-old in the media and on social media as “pathetic.”
On Thursday, ahead of United’s trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Man City, Ten Hag elaborated on his “pathetic” claim, and demanded Fulham apologise to Fernandes after they took a swipe at him on TikTok.
The London club put a clip of the social media platform of the United captain appearing to writhe in pain following a challenge during Fulham’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Fulham accompanied the clip – which shows Fernandes quickly getting to his feet after a few seconds rolling around – with the caption: “so glad he’s ok”.
Ten had told reporters: “It is absolutely not right that a club makes such statement because it is totally out of order and wrong and they should apologise for this.
The United boss went on to say: “I thought it was definitely on Saturday a foul and really misjudged from media, from social media, to blame him.
“That was my point yesterday [Wednesday] and opponents are targeting him and that is not right. There were fouls on him even after the ball was kicked away.
“Opponents are targeting him and especially after Saturday when he had the knock and they see it and the referee should protect him there. It was so obvious they were looking for him.”
Fernandes was spotted limping after the Forest game, but Ten Hag expects him to be fit for the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Rasmus Hojlund and United’s other injured stars are not expected to recover in time.
Erik ten Hag could reportedly have his next job already lined up as pressure continues to mount on the Dutchman at Manchester United.
After United’s underwhelming start to the 23/24 season, Ten Hag is facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are currently sitting in sixth place in the Premier League table and their Champions League campaign came to a premature end after a disastrous group stage.
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After the recent investment from British billionaire and INEOS boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the uncertainties around Ten Hag’s future have been raised.
However, it has been claimed that Ten Hag could have his next job already lined up.
As reported by The Independent, Ten Hag’s former side, Ajax, would be willing to work with the Dutchman again.
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The 54-year-old spent five seasons at the Amsterdam club before being lured away by United.
During his time with Ajax, Ten Hag won three Eredivisie titles and two KNVP Cups.
Speaking recently about his future, Ten Hag said: “I’m here, I’m under contract for three seasons, so I don’t care. I’m only focusing on the process so I don’t care what’s going around me.
“I have many talks with Jim Ratcliffe but especially also with Sir Dave Brailsford so I know what we are talking about. I have a strong belief and I feel that they believe in me.”
He continued: “I’m just focusing on the team and I have to find solutions for this team that they perform in the best way they can. It’s all about focusing on this and don’t get distracted by any noise.
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“We’re talking about the future, we’re talking about a future together.”
United are back in Premier League action on Sunday afternoon when they take on local rivals and reigning champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
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