Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has emphasized his cautious approach ahead of the Community Shield match against Manchester City, stating that he will not take unnecessary risks with his players, according to Daily Post.
With several key players still recovering from injuries, Ten Hag is keen to prioritize their availability for the upcoming season. The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, and Alejandro Garnacho have yet to feature in pre-season friendlies, while Leny Yoro and Rasmus Højlund are already ruled out due to injuries.
When asked about his team selection for the match against City, Ten Hag told reporters, "The FA Cup was a higher occasion than the game on Saturday. Nevertheless, we want to win, but we showed on occasions we can beat City. We have that belief, but we don't want to take a risk with players and lose them for long periods."
Ten Hag's comments highlight his focus on long-term goals, having learned from last season's experiences with injuries to key players. He added, "We want to get results, and for that, players have to be available. We don't want to get into a pattern where we're missing many players with injuries from the same team unit, because that affects the results."
With Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also doubtful for the match, Ten Hag's cautious approach is understandable. Manchester United will be seeking to win the Community Shield for the first time since 2016, but the manager's primary concern is ensuring his players are fit and available for the challenges ahead.
Comments