Erik ten Hag: I have only been able to pick Manchester United's strongest team once

Erik ten Hag has claimed that he has only been able to name his full-strength starting line-up on one occasion in nearly two years as Manchester United manager.

Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Championship club Coventry is the Dutchman’s 107th game in charge of United and yet Ten Hag says last season’s Old Trafford Manchester derby is the only occasion on which it has been possible to choose his perfect line-up.

After the successes of his debut campaign in charge, Ten Hag points to a wretched run of injuries and illness in his squad as the reason for failing to develop in his second season.

Leading into the visit to Wembley, there have been a total of 57 different instances of United players missing games due to illness or injury this season, leading to a huge drop-off in results and speculation over Ten Hag’s future under the new leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Ten Hag himself, however, insists he is not concerned about external criticism.

“No, I don’t have any concern,” he said. “What concerns me is that in 18 months I have never had my favourite team on the pitch once, because players were injured – that concerns me.

“In fact there was only one time, against City at home last season. That is the only time I had a full squad to pick my full team.

“In all the other games there was an injury aspect that we have had to deal with. That’s normal in football, but not as many as we have had.

“And I know that when we’ve had so many injuries in crucial key positions, you can’t deliver the results you want to bring.

“That’s okay, but that’s my truth – others can have different truths but I can’t put any energy into that.”