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Manchester United have reportedly launched an investigation into why Erik ten Hag’s team has been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks.
The Red Devils’ poor start to the season has seen them win four and lose four of their first eight Premier League games, placing them in 10th place in the table.
Ten Hag’s team has also started their Champions League campaign with consecutive losses to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, leaving them bottom of Group A and at risk of exiting Europe’s biggest event early.
Injuries, off-field squabbles, and the continuing takeover saga haven’t helped Ten Hag, who has been dealing with a damaged set of choices in the early stages of the season.
According to the Daily Mail, Red Devils medical staff are now investigating whether there is a pattern to their side’s terrible fitness woes in order to prevent future occurrences.
With a slew of Manchester United players suffering muscular ailments since the season began, the club is considering whether last season’s record-breaking number of games is to blame.
Along with the 38-game Premier League season, Man United reached the FA Cup and EFL Cup finals, as well as the Europa League quarter-finals before being eliminated by Sevilla.
Furthermore, 14 players were selected to represent their countries at the World Cup, with only Barcelona (17), Bayern Munich (16), Manchester City (16), and Al-Sadd (15) having more representatives in Qatar.
Two of those 14 players, Fred and Cristiano Ronaldo, have since moved on, while a number of other World Cup performances have been sidelined by injuries this season.
However, following their merciless campaign, Man United reportedly spotted a similar pattern of injuries with treble winners Manchester City, and the Red Devils grabbed ex-Arsenal doctor Gary O’Driscoll to head up their medical department in the summer.
Man United has eight players in the treatment room heading into the international break, including Lisandro Martinez, who is projected to miss the rest of 2023 after undergoing a second foot operation.
To add to Ten Hag’s full-back crisis, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sergio Reguilon are both struggling with thigh injuries, while Luke Shaw has not played since the end of August owing to a muscle issue of his own.
Raphael Varane is also being treated by physiotherapists, while Amad Diallo (knee) and Kobbie Mainoo (ankle) suffered impact injuries in pre-season, though the latter is currently back in training.
Man United have also been forced to do without new arrivals Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount for parts of the season, while Casemiro suffered an ankle injury in Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Thursday.
Finally, Ten Hag is still not considering Jadon Sancho for selection following his public criticism of the manager, who has yet to receive the requested apologies from the England attacker.
