Erik ten Hag's defensive injury crisis deepens with two Man Utd problems at Chelsea
Man Utd’s defensive woes were worsened after Raphael Varane and substitute Jonny Evans were both withdrawn through injury against Chelsea on Thursday night
Erik ten Hag’s defensive headache worsened after Manchester United suffered two more injury issues against Chelsea.
The Red Devils came from 2-0 down inside 20 minutes to lead 3-2 midway through the second half before losing it all deep into stoppage time in a chaotic game at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, which saw the visitors' remaining defensive options ravaged.
Ten Hag entered the trip to West London on Thursday without Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof, who have both been ruled out for a month with injury. But the starting centre-back partnership of Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane barely made it to half-time at the Bridge before the Frenchman was withdrawn at the break and replaced by Jonny Evans.
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However, 36-year-old Evans lasted just 20 minutes, albeit an action packed cameo, before he was substituted for teenager Willy Kambwala, who made his first-team debut in December last year when he started amid another injury crisis at the heart of defence against West Ham.
Ten Hag has now lost four centre-backs within a matter of days, and depending on the severity of Varane and Evans’ problems, could be left with one senior centre-back for a prolonged period of time.
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Speaking after United’s gut-wrenching defeat, Ten Hag admitted he was unsure how bad they were and suggested they were a factor in the Reds throwing away another winning position deep into added time for the second time in a week, following the draw at Brentford last Saturday.
"That doesn't help in such moments if you have to manage the game, [it helps] that there are leaders on the pitch," he said. “Also Casemiro we have to take off. That doesn't help. They know how to deal [with pressure] and how to bring the win over the line.
"I can't tell now what it is in prospect of Sunday but we have to take them both off." Answering specifically about Varane ahead of the visit of Liverpool on Sunday, Ten Hag replied: "In this moment, I don't know. I can't help."