Latest On Manchester United News: Marcus Rashford was forced off during United’s win over Everton due to injury
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag blamed attacker Marcus Rashford’s groin injury in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Everton on the club’s hectic match calendar, saying he “can only pray” the injury was not serious.
Rashford, who has 28 goals for United in all competitions this season, gripped the inside of his right leg while straining for a high ball at Old Trafford and was replaced for the final 10 minutes by Wout Weghorst.
“Some things you can’t afford,” Ten Hag said.
“Why is the Premier League giving us the late Sunday night game and the early Saturday game? I think it’s not right, and then you run the risk, players can’t recover that quickly, and we know all the science, research gives you that players need a certain period to recover.”
The encounter on Saturday was United’s third in seven days, and while Ten Hag was delighted of his team’s performances, which had put them ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the top four, he was irritated at the prospect of losing his top scorer.
The schedule does not get much easier with a Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla at home on Thursday and a Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
“It’s part of the schedule and now we are finding ourselves in this situation, and now we can only pray that (Rashford) is not dropping off (injured),” Ten Hag added.
The degree of the injury was not specified by the Man United boss.
“I can’t say in the moment. Are you a doctor maybe?” he said with a laugh. “We have to wait for diagnosis, wait and see.”
Rashford was all over the pitch during Manchester United’s commanding win over Everton, assisting Anthony Martial’s 71st-minute goal that made it 2-0 while squandering many golden chances himself. However, he paid for his hectic afternoon by walking uncomfortably to the Old Trafford tunnel after the game.
Ten Hag was questioned about why he did not pull Rashford off after his team were ahead 2-0.
“Fair question,” the United manager responded, adding that he wanted to give Rashford and second-half substitute Martial more playing time together.
While United have not lost since a 7-0 thumping at Liverpool on March 5th, Ten Hag stated that they will not be taking their position lightly with 10 league games remaining.
“It’s game-by-game. We know what we’re capable of and we see this team are still improving,” he added.
The anticipated return of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who served his four-game suspension on Saturday, should be fantastic news for United.
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