LONDON: Erik ten Hag says Manchester United cannot use injuries to defenders Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as an excuse if their top-four push is damaged against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Ten Hag’s side are likely to be without both players at the City Ground after they were hurt during Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final first leg.
Martinez was stretchered off after gripping his right ankle in the second half, while fellow centre-back Varane was substituted at half-time.
Ten Hag had no update on the condition of either Martinez or Varane when he spoke to reporters on Friday.
“It’s not even 24 hours, so I don’t have a complete diagnosis so I can’t tell in this moment,” he said.
The United boss was coy when asked about reports that World Cup winner Martinez had broken a metatarsal, which would likely rule him out for the rest of the season.
“I can’t say in this moment,” he said. “When we have news, we will give it straight to you.
“But let’s do the medical, do the assessment, fully diagnose, complete the diagnosis and then we will give the news.
“It doesn’t change in this moment. I have an idea but I don’t cause speculation.”
Varane’s replacement, Harry Maguire, scored an own goal in stoppage time as Sevilla came from two goals down to rescue a draw at Old Trafford.
But Maguire and Victor Lindelof will likely have an important role to play after Martinez and Varane joined an injury list that already includes Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Donny van de Beek.
With fourth-placed United hoping to secure qualification for next season’s Champions League while also chasing silverware in the Europa League and FA Cup, their injury problems could not be timed any worse.
Ten Hag hopes Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay will be fit for the Forest game, but the United boss was quick to underline the importance of squad players stepping up.
“Every game is a battle, every game is a fight and you have to be ready for that fight,” he said.
“We have a squad. I have said all season we have more than 11 starters, so now others are on and when their time is there you have to show and contribute to the team.
“You have to be ready. That is what we expect, that is what we demand.”
Asked if it might be difficult to blend the understudies into his starting line-up, Ten Hag said: “I think then you are finding excuses.
“If you want to find excuses or set excuses, then you don’t have to play for Man United and you have to look for another club.
“You have to wait for your moment and when the moment is there you have to contribute, you have to bring your performance and that is what we demand.”-
Meanwhile, Thomas Zilliacus insists his offer to buy Manchester United is still on the table after the Finnish tycoon declined to enter a third round of bidding for the Premier League club.
Zilliacus made a bid for United in March as he joined a heated takeover battle also featuring rival offers from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
It appeared Zilliacus had withdrawn from the race this week when he said on social media that he would not participate “in a farce” after bidders were invited to lodge improved offers by April 28.
But Zilliacus, who has previously been involved with HJK Helsinki in his homeland, on Friday claimed his previous bid was still available for United’s owners the Glazer family to consider.
“My earlier offer still stands and I am willing to pay a premium above what I offered,” he told the BBC’s How To Buy A Football Club podcast.
“I’m not going to be participating in a third round because I find it highly unprofessional. I see no reason whatsoever why a third round is basically starting the whole thing from scratch.
“It seems odd to me that, if there is a genuine will to sell and you have three serious bidders, why you don’t sit down with the bidders, discuss and negotiate and hopefully come to a number that everyone can agree.”
Zilliacus, the founder of new social media organisation novaM Group, also criticised the US-based Glazers for conducting the potential sale at such a slow pace, with their asking price reported to be around £6 billion ($7.4 billion).
The Glazers first announced their intention to consider a sale, or accept fresh investment, back in November.
Zilliacus says the drawn-out negotiations could hinder United manager Erik ten Hag’s bid to sign new players in the close-season transfer window.
“I can’t see the Glazers spending a lot of money on new players. If they have decided to sell the club, why would they do that?” he said.
“The potential to have a negative impact on the club is big and is growing every day when there is no decision on this.”
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