MY ACCOUNT
Erik ten Hag vented his fury over Manchester United’s schedule after Marcus Rashford sustained an injury during a 2-0 Premier League win over Everton.
Rashford limped off with a groin issue late in the Red Devils’ victory over the struggling Toffees at Old Trafford on Saturday, where Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial were on target.
United manager Ten Hag revealed that his leading goalscorer’s injury “doesn’t look well” ahead of a Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla on Thursday.
The Dutchman put the England forward’s setback down to playing so many games in a short time.
Asked about the extent of Rashford’s injury, he said: “I can’t say in this moment. You are a doctor, maybe I’m not.
“We have to wait – how bad or how good it is. So, yeah, obviously he went off with a complaint and now we have to wait, set a diagnosis and then we can see. Also, when I asked now the doctor I get the same answer.”
He added: “Some things you can’t avoid, but that was avoidable.
“Why is the Premier League giving us the late Sunday night game and giving us the early Saturday game? I think it’s not right.
“Then you run the risk. The players can’t recover that quickly and we know all the science, all the science research that will give you that players need a certain period to recover.
“If it’s more [games] after each other, then it accumulates, so then they run even more the risk.
“It’s also part of the schedule that we are now finding ourselves in this situation and now we can only pray that [Rashford] is not dropping off.”
Rashford has 28 goals in 47 games this season, and provided the assist for Martial against Everton.
Ten Hag continued: “It was not necessary to set the schedule like we have now.
“Then I think other facts is more important than the sportive element, like protecting the players. Also, let’s say this, today we have seen a very entertaining afternoon, but players can’t do it so often when they are not fresh.
“We create a lot of chances but missing the chances is also part of it, that is a lack of freshness in the final moment, and the risk of injuries.
“I think we have to protect the players and that is also the interest from the total football because everyone wants to see great football. Then you need to have your best players on the pitch.”
