sport news Bruno Fernandes' absence during Man United's thumping 4-0 defeat at Crystal ... trends now
Manchester United’s rotten luck with injuries this season was perhaps best summed up when their own Superman, Bruno Fernandes, missed a club match through injury for the first time in his professional career on Monday night.
The Portuguese superstar is a warrior and is always eager to fight through the pain barrier - notable when he had to grit his teeth to get through an FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest earlier this season after being kicked around days prior in a defeat against Fulham, or when he bandaged up his hand during the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.
His absence for the 4-0 demolition at Selhurst Park made it 63 separate cases of injury and illness to have hampered United this season, something boss Erik ten Hag continues to struggle to truly comprehend.
‘For over 10 years I am managing, I never had this experience,’ the Dutchman said recently.
‘So huge, so many injury issues, so I trust all my experience, it can happen once in 10 years. Hopefully now I have to wait another 10 to have so many injuries to deal with.’
Bruno Fernandes was forced to miss his first game through injury in his professional career
The Manchester United skipper sat out during their thumping 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace
Erik ten Hag, whose future at Old Trafford is under significant pressure, bemoaned the spate of absences and claimed he had never experienced anything like it in his 10 years as a manager
Twenty-five senior squad members have suffered at least one injury this season, missing a combined total of more than 1,200 days. Only Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho have avoided a game-preventing injury.
Also, of his 110 matches in charge, it can be argued that Ten Hag has only been able to name his best XI twice: against Wolves on the opening day and West Ham in February. Fans have been left dumbfounded while it’s led to more than one raised eyebrow behind the scenes at United.
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There has been a strong feeling among some sources that spoke to Mail Sport that the intensity of Ten Hag’s training, particularly for players returning from lengthy lay-offs, has played a factor in re-aggravation. The number of high-intensity sessions has also irked some.
Ten Hag has dismissed those claims when pressed on them, insisting he needs robust players to win at the top level.
‘No, we don't train too hard. We need to be fit,’ he told Sky recently.
‘The standards in this league, you need to be fit, otherwise you can't match the standards that are required in a game. We don't train too hard.’
He added: ‘You need very robust players - that is the requirement.
‘When we were around Christmas with a lot of injuries and then you have to bring them back, but in the moment they are free from injury they are not going to be match fit. They are not straight back into the form, that also needs a couple of games before you get back in the rhythm.
‘I think we have more players who are very robust, as Bruno [Fernandes] is, but that is the type of player you need.’
The truth is, if United had 18 Fernandes’ in their squad the ‘crisis’ would be far less pronounced than it is. Expect ‘robustness’, both physically and mentally, to be high on INEOS’ wishlist for new recruits.
United have already taken what they believe to be necessary steps forward with their facilities to close the gap on rivals and limit the scope for the type of injury crisis being experienced now.
A hyperbaric chamber - which can significantly speed up recovery
