Following the culmination of another engrossing Premier League season, BBC Sport published a list detailing exactly how many injuries each team had suffered during a campaign in which the treatment rooms were more tightly packed than a tube station full of fans heading to Wembley Way.
At thetop of the list – and this will come as no surprise to anyone at Old Trafford – was Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag‘s side recorded 45 separate injury issues in the league, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez among those missing large chunks of the campaign.
In contrast, only four teams suffered fewer injuries than Man City’s 26.
Call it luck. Call it better squad management, or superior training standards. Whatever the reason, Ten Hag can be forgiven for wondering how differently his second season in the Old Trafford dugout would have panned out had he not been forced to put out semi-strength line-ups on an almost weekly basis over the last few months.
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Ten Hag confirmed on Thursday that a ‘gutted‘ Harry Maguire would not return in time for Saturday’s FA Cup final, the centre-back joining fellow England international Luke Shaw on the sidelines.
Guardiola, meanwhile, has every single one of his players fit and available.
Well, all except goalkeeper Ederson. And even that is not as much of a blow as it might have been, Stefan Ortega exceptional in the Brazilian’s absence.
And, just one week after Guardiola hinted that his time at the Etihad may be entering it’s autumn days, tomorrow’s cup final may be the last charge for Erik ten Hag, regardless of whether Man United can take some revenge on that Ilkay Gundogan-inspired City win 12 months ago.
“In big clubs like United and City, when you don’t win, you are always in trouble. That’s not a secret,” Guardiola tells BBC Sport, his opposite number losing a club-record 14 Premier League games in 2023/24.
The Spaniard does have some sympathy for Ten Hag, however, arguing that it’s maybe a little unfair to judge the Dutchman’s results when he has had to field a different back four almost every time United take to the pitch.
Injuries have destroyed Erik ten Hag’s season
“I have a huge respect for (Ten Hag’s) job in the past, and now in United,” adds Guardiola, who was head coach of Bayern Munich when the 54-year-old was in charge of the German giants youngsters.
“They do not have a full squad. Not all (the) squad (has been) ready all season. lot of injuries. (The) manager has suffered a lot.”
Yet more suffering may be on the way, of course, if reports are to be believed that this will be Ten Hag’s last dance in the Red Devils hotseat. The embattled Man United boss will, at least, be boosted by the availability of Lisandro Martinez at Wembley.
Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial may also make their final club appearances before their contracts expire in July.
“All the players you mentioned (Victor Lindelof, Mount and Martial), are I think all available,” a relieved Ten Hag says while also hailing the much-criticised Marcus Rashford’s performances on the training pitch.
“Tomorrow final training and then we will make final decisions but if I oversee it now it looks good.
“(Rashord) looks good. And that is a career; ups and downs. So, a down can also be fuel. That is what I see in training. He will be highly motivated. Speak with your feet He is highly talented.
“He has already a big career and I am sure he will get over this and he will make even more goals.”