Prior to Saturday’s FA Cup final matchup against Man City, Erik ten Hag has been inundated with two unwanted pieces of news.
Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw will likely miss the FA Cup final. (Image: Getty)
Harry Maguire’s admission earlier this week that he was in a race for fitness dealt Manchester United a blow ahead of their FA Cup final matchup with Manchester City on Saturday. Erik ten Hag’s problems have gotten worse after the United manager revealed that he had already received some unfavorable defensive news.
Ten Hag needs to win the match at Wembley because there is increasing pressure on him to keep his job ahead of the first summer transfer window of the INEOS era.
Pep Guardiola’s team is anticipated to be in good health going into the rematch of last year’s final, which his team won 2-1, as if City wasn’t already a formidable test.
Ten Hag has experienced a surge in his own fitness levels in the last few weeks. Following spellouts, Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford are back in action.
Ahead of the journey to the nation’s capital, Anthony Martial, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof, and Raphael Varane have resumed their training.
But Maguire, who had a renaissance this season and might have been favored to start if fit, has acknowledged he’s a doubt.
“Obviously, getting hurt at this time is upsetting and frustrating. I’m still not sure if I’ll be ready,” Maguire admitted to talkSPORT.
The FA Cup final is a must-win game for Erik ten Hag. (Image: Getty)
“This one is going to be late. It’s going to be close, but I’m hoping to make the cup final squad.”
He went on, “I’ve probably had a few muscle injuries throughout the season for the first time in my career. It feels different and is frustrating.
“You always want to play so maybe I need to look at how I’m managing myself and stuff like that.”
If he had been healthy, Luke Shaw most likely would have started in the starting lineup. Ten Hag disclosed earlier this week that he had encountered an obstacle in his recuperation from his injuries.
Though I believe the likelihood of him making it is currently lower, it is still present. Ten Hag clarified, “He had a setback, and now we have to find out how he is.
Tyrell Malacia has missed the entire season and Shaw has been out of action for three months, so United is without a natural left-back.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been receiving regular starts at right-back thanks to Diogo Dalot’s covering.
Both will start for Ten Hag against City, but for the time being, neither of his two center backs is known.
