Erik ten Hag has weighed into the debate over a fixture pile-up in football and says it’s unfair to overload the players.
United have suffered a crippling injury list in recent weeks with no fewer than 16 players out of action since pre-season.
Lisandro Martinez has become the latest addition after aggravating the foot injury which kept him out for two months at the end of last season.
Ten Hag believes that the winter World Cup and addition of Nations League games on top of a heavy schedule is putting an intolerable pressure on his stars.
‘Players can’t deal anymore with this overload and I think that’s what you see in this squad at the moment,’ said the United boss.
Erik ten Hag believes players are suffering from overload after a spate of early season injuries
Lisandro Martinez faces a lengthy injury lay-off after aggravating a foot injury that he suffered at the end of last season
The Argentinian defender was forced off in the defeat at Arsenal at the start of September but played through the pain in games against Brighton and Bayern Munich
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‘We already expanded the squad this season because we make the reason clear. We had a World Cup in the middle of the season, we had a longer season, we had to play a longer season as well with the FA Cup (final), then Nations League games, a shorter break.
‘Every time the schedule is expanding, the load on the players is too much, it’s such a great overload. Many colleagues of mine have pointed to that, and I have pointed to that as well. But it keeps going. We keep expanding the schedule, it won’t stop.’
Ten Hag confirmed that Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay will rejoin the squad to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League after Old Trafford on Saturday after missing Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Roy Hodgson’s side.
The United manager is expecting a tougher game second time around, adding: ‘Definitely. Both sides will be different but we got belief from it. I know the opponent is looking for revenge, clear, and that will be their view.’
