Players are using injuries as an excuse suggests Man United legend

Injuries have been the major talking point for Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag everytime he is asked to explain his team’s failures this season. To be fair, the Red Devils have indeed had an unusual amount of injuries this season.

The team has over 60 separate cases of players missing games due to an injury of some kind. The defensive line has been so adversely affected that the Dutchman has had to start Jonny Evans and Casemiro at CB over the last two games.

A major issue for Erik ten Hag’s side and there seems to be no end in sight at the moment. However, Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney suggests that players are using injuries as an excuse. Let’s have a look at what he had to say on the matter. (h/t The Independent)

🚨🚨🎙️| Wayne Rooney on injured #mufc players:

“You need to want to play. I played with injuries. The manager needs to be ruthless and take that opportunity away from you. As long you haven’t got a bad injury you should want to play on that football pitch. For me that doesn’t… pic.twitter.com/09HKDwMuO6

— centredevils. (@centredevils) May 12, 2024

“There are some very good players in that squad and the performances are way below par. You look at the injuries and some of those players could play; 100 percent.”

“I just think the players who have been injured are not filling themselves with any credit at the minute.”

Rooney also suggested that the players who can play but aren’t are actually saving themselves for the 2024 EUROs or the upcoming FA Cup final against Man City. He says he’s seen it happen during his time as a player.

However, with how poor of a state the team is currently in, the players surely aren’t ducking matches. In fact, before the game against Arsenal, Erik ten Hag stated his best defender, Lisandro Martinez was desperate to get back on the pitch.

However, it was too soon for the Argentine but a return for the team’s next game has not been ruled out at the moment. Even Luke Shaw was desperate to come back but unfortunately suffered a setback in his recovery. All these players being desperate for some action shows that at least some still wish to fight for the badge.

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Rooney’s statements might be looked at more closely if Erik ten Hag’s ‘stars’ suddenly come back during the FA Cup final against Man City.