Manchester United's deepening injury crisis has promoted the club to launch an investigation with defenders Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof the latest casualties.
Manchester United's ongoing injury crisis has prompted the club to launch an internal investigation into the root causes of their debilitating injury list this season, according to manager Erik ten Hag.
The latest casualties, defenders Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof, have further exacerbated the team's woes, joining an already lengthy list of sidelined players.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ten Hag acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, "We have an idea but we will work on that internally and deal with it."
The Dutch manager has faced mounting pressure throughout the campaign due to the team's persistent injury setbacks, hindering his ability to field a consistent starting lineup.
The injury crisis reached a new low this week as Martinez and Lindelof were ruled out for a month with calf and hamstring injuries, respectively, adding to the absence of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Despite the setbacks, United received a boost with the return of Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans, who have eased the defensive burden ahead of the crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea on Thursday.
Varane, who was also forced off during the last game, has recovered in time for the upcoming fixture, while Evans returns after missing the previous two games due to a calf injury.
Furthermore, the return of Harry Maguire to training on Tuesday provided further relief for Ten Hag, who expressed optimism about the team's defensive options. "There are no more issues, we don't need any!" he exclaimed.
Ten Hag attributed United's injury woes to the demanding schedule and intense competition in the Premier League, emphasising that other top teams have also faced similar challenges.
"The standards of the Premier League from an intensity perspective are so high," he noted. "The overload of the schedule, international football is so huge, and we have internationals in our squad."
Acknowledging the widespread nature of the issue, Ten Hag highlighted that clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Newcastle have also encountered injury problems.
Despite the hurdles, Ten Hag remains focused on managing the situation and navigating through the congested fixture list with the aim of minimising further injuries and maximising the team's performance on the pitch.