Erik ten Hag : I would have 75% win ratio at Manchester United but for injuries
Erik ten Hag believes he may have won up to 75 of his first 100 matches as Manchester United boss was it not for an injury list he claims no team would be able to cope with.
This has been a poor second season in the hotseat for the under-pressure Dutchman, who suffered a 3-1 defeat at rivals Manchester City last weekend as he brought up a century of matches in charge.
Ten Hag had to field a patched-up team against the Premier League champions and absentee-hit United will again be without a host of first-team players for Saturday’s clash with embattled Everton.
Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans have been passed fit after coming off in the Manchester derby, but Omari Forson has joined their lengthy list of injuries ahead of the weekend.
“That’s the good news, (Rashford and Evans) recovered after the derby, so they are available,” boss Ten Hag said.
“For the rest it is the same squad apart from Omari Forson. He dropped out. He has an injury.
“Mason Mount, I think he is in a good spell now and he will return shortly. I think after the international break.
“For next week, some players are planning to return hopefully.
“When the process will continue like it is now Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka I expect them to be available for our game against Liverpool. (Rasmus) Hojlund similar, yeah.”
Defeat in next weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final clash against rivals Liverpool will end United’s last remaining route to silverware this term.
Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup in his first campaign and led the side to third in the Premier League – a far cry from their current place in sixth, 11 points off fourth-placed Aston Villa with 11 games to go.
Injuries have played a key role in this season’s drop-off and without such issues the Dutchman believes he would have won far more than 61 of his first 100 matches at the helm.
“It tells that we are in the right direction,” Ten Hag said of his win ratio.
“So, imagine if we had many more players available, not so many setbacks in injuries, it could have been easily 70 or 75 wins and that tells the bright future of this team when players are available.
“Because if you compare it, you compare it with other managers or other teams who were in a build-up stage, or with previous managers in this big club, then you can see there is a bright future.
“Also, I think it’s a good balance in ages in this squad, where young players, middle-aged players, experienced players together.
“Imagine when they are available. As I said, we could have easily win from 100 games 75 and that’s a big difference I think with the stats you mentioned.”
Long-term absentees Lisandro Martinez, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are others sidelined right now, unbalancing a side clearly lacking strength in depth.
“No team can deal with this, with so many injuries,” Ten Hag added. “I think we are playing to maximum levels if you take in the availability of the players.
“So, when you miss so many key players over many parts of the season, then obviously the results, the performances will not be (the same as) when the players are available.
“We have seen when the players were available like in January and February our performances were very good.
“And I think from that moment when the players were not even fit, they could have done even better when they are 100 per cent fit in that moment but they were not.”
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Jurgen Klopp lined up for new role after Liverpool exit with two rivals battling for him
Jurgen Klopp to leave Liverpool at end of 2023/24 season
Legendary manager has not made plans over next job
Klopp to be offered role as pundit on English TV for Euro 2024
By 90min Staff
2:35 PM GMT
Klopp is leaving Liverpool
Klopp is leaving Liverpool / Alexander Hassenstein/GettyImages
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be offered the chance to become a TV pundit for BBC and ITV's coverage of Euro 2024.
Klopp announced in January he would be standing down from his role as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023/24 season having informed the board of his decision in private a couple of months earlier - 90min understands Xabi Alonso tops a seven-man shortlist of contenders to succeed him.
Though Klopp has not revealed his plans to return to management after leaving the Reds and is simply stepping aside due to fatigue, he has confirmed he will not take charge of another English side in his career. However, that doesn't mean his time on these shores will necessarily come to an end.
UEFA EURO 2024 Final Tournament Draw
Euro 2024 will be held in Klopp's native Germany / Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
The Mail report Klopp has been made the number one punditry target for BBC and ITV for this summer's European Championships, believing he would make their coverage 'must-watch' and give them an edge when competing for viewers and plaudits.
But Klopp is unlikely to take either up on their respective offers and he is set to watch Euro 2024 as a fan having purchased tickets to each of Germany's three group stage matches. The hosts take on Scotland at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on June 14 before facing Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19 and then neighbours Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23.
Germany head into Euro 2024 as one of the tournament favourites but in desperate need of turning their on-field fortunes around following a disappointing 2022 World Cup and woeful run of form since. Julian Nagelsmann will take charge of the national side for this summer's tournament but is expected to step back into club management when his contract expires afterwards.
Reports from England and Germany have claimed in recent months that Klopp is not expected to take another managerial role until 2025. He has been heavily linked with the Germany national team job as well as a move to Bayern, who are currently rivalling Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen's Alonso.
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