‘Complicated’ – Ten Hag confident United can beat Fenerbahce despite being without 10 players

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·23 de outubro de 2024

‘Complicated’ – Ten Hag confident United can beat Fenerbahce despite being without 10 players

Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United can secure a rare win in Europe despite facing Fenerbahce on Thursday night with multiple injuries.

Manchester United are without 10 players for their trip to Istanbul, where they seek their first Europa League win of the season after drawing with FC Twente and Porto in previous outings.

Vídeos OneFootball

Those returns mean United have an awful record in Europe of late, winning just one of their last 10 matches in continental competitions.

Ten Hag won’t have Bruno Fernandes available for the match due to suspension. The skipper picked up two yellow cards in the 3-3 draw against FC Porto.

Erik ten Hag must select a winning side with 10 players absent

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Jonny Evans took a knock against Brentford and will miss Thursday night’s tie as a result. He joins a list of defenders in the treatment room, including Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw.

Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Dan Gore and Toby Collyer are also absent from the 20-man squad that travelled to Turkey this evening.

Ten Hag remains confident that his players will get the job done against Fenerbahce. He told reporters tonight (via ManUtd.com): “Yes, of course (am confident). The players who are available have to do the job and they’re capable of doing the job.

“It is complicated (with injuries) but it is never easy. We have to deal with it and we will deal with it.

“As a team we have to cover many games in a short time and we will do that the best as possible.

“We have to progress. I think we made a good step (by beating Brentford 2-1) and now we have to follow up tomorrow and then go again on Sunday (at West Ham).

“But players like to play football instead of doing training, so for the players it’s the best way.

“There are so many games coming up. As long as you have enough players available and construct a team and don’t have to go into big injury risk, then it’s the best to play to games.

“At this moment we are still OK but hopefully we won’t get many more injuries because then we will be short.”

When asked about Mount’s recovery, Ten Hag added: “I think a bit longer, that’s what we expected. I think he will be back soon. The players who are available have to do the job [against Fenerbahce] and they are capable of doing the job.”