Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans boost Manchester United amid defensive crisis
Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans look set to bolster Manchester United’s beleaguered backline at Chelsea as Erik ten Hag’s side continue to search for answers to their ongoing injury problems.
The Red Devils have been besieged by issues during a difficult second season for the Dutchman, with the side struggling in the Premier League and dumped out of Europe before Christmas.
United face an uphill battle to qualify for next year’s Champions League and produced one of their worst displays on Saturday at Brentford, where Victor Lindelof became the latest player to pick up a muscle injury.
The Sweden international’s hamstring issue in the 1-1 draw is set to keep him out for at least a month, with his replacement Lisandro Martinez facing a similar absence after sustaining a calf complaint in training.
Those issues compound the absence of fellow defenders Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, but Ten Hag is hopeful that Varane – who went off at half-time on Saturday – and recently injured Evans will be fit to face Chelsea.
“No more issues – we don’t need (anymore)!” the United manager said ahead of Thursday’s match. “On the frontline and in midfield we are OK, we have options there.
“But in the backline we have a lack of options, but the good thing is back in training this afternoon is Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans. And Harry Maguire was already yesterday back in training.”
Lindelof and Martinez’s setbacks raise further questions about the spate of muscle injuries United have been dealing with this term.
Asked if they are any closer to knowing why they are getting so many issues, Ten Hag said: “Yeah, we have an idea but we will work on that. I think internally we will deal with it.”
Ten Hag rejected the chance to expand on what that “idea” was but was more forthcoming about the strains on top teams right now.
“You can’t prevent,” the United boss said. “You see it’s not only us who’ve had this.
“The standards of the Premier League from an intensity perspective are so high, the overload in the schedule, also international football is so huge.
“We have all internationals in our squad and you see it’s not only us – City, Liverpool and Newcastle have the problems, so there are many other teams.
“In this moment, especially the defending department but in the midfield and frontline the players are available.”
Injuries only offer some mitigation for United’s struggles, though, with the drop-off from the stunning FA Cup quarter-final win against Liverpool to the draw at Brentford setting off alarm bells.
The Bees had an eye-watering 31 shots on Saturday and the Red Devils return to west London on Thursday needing a vastly improved display.
“I am long enough in football to know and also some of you should also understand why such things happen,” Ten Hag said.
“Sometimes you are not playing well but we are Man United and we still have to win. And when you are winning, you can’t give it away like we did.
“That was the biggest disappointment for me but also we have to see the trend-line over a long period, from Christmas on, is positive and we keep going.”
The only positive at Brentford was Mason Mount scoring his first United goal as he continues to build fitness after four months out with a calf issue.
The 25-year-old is now preparing for his first return to Chelsea since leaving in the summer, with Ten Hag keen to avoid rushing him back too soon.
“He’s a fantastic football player but it’s important first that he is getting and keeping fit because he has had three injuries,” he said.
“You see it now with Licha, so another injury, so you want to avoid and we have to do this carefully.
“This is first objective, to keep him fit. Of course in the same we want to use him that he can benefit and contribute to the team like he did on Saturday when he had a big impact.”
The Scottish Championship: Britain’s most exciting division
FotMob - April 3, 2024, 1:16 PM
As per usual, the main talking point in Scottish football right now surrounds the Old Firm as they both battle it out for the Premiership title. This is the first proper title race since Rangers returned to the top flight in 2016, as Philippe Clement has rejuvenated the Light Blues after taking over in mid-October, turning them from a club in crisis to potential treble winners.
By Ross Kilvington
With two derby clashes left, the battle could go down to the wire in what should be the most exciting climax for years.
Has this perhaps stolen the limelight from another pulsating title race in Scotland? As the Championship is shaping up to provide the most thrilling finish in the SPFL.
Last season, 32 points separated champions Dundee from bottom side Cove Rangers, yet between first and sixth position, there was only an eight point difference, showcasing how tightly contested the division was.
In comparison, the Premiership saw a staggering 48 points separate Celtic from St Mirren in sixth, while the difference between the same positions in League One and Two were 30 and 26 points respectively.
The 2023/24 campaign is no different. There is an enthralling title race going on, a fierce battle for the remaining two playoff positions, plus a battle to see who avoids the relegation playoff spot.
The question is, why does the Scottish Championship fail to get the plaudits it deserves? Despite being the most exciting league in the country.
Relegation scrap
Two seasons ago, Arbroath were swiftly becoming everyone’s second team. The part timers from Angus exceeded all expectations under the wily Dick Campbell, finishing in second place.
They suffered an agonising defeat in the playoffs to Inverness and it has been all downhill from there. The Red Lichties look condemned to League One, but the battle to see who will finish ninth is tight.
Ayr United are only six points clear of Inverness, while Queens Park are just four points better off and while this may not be as exciting as the scrap at the top of the table, everything is to play for at the bottom.
The Promotion playoff battle
Now, this is where things begin to get exciting. Airdrie, Morton, Dunfermline, and Partick Thistle are the four teams vying for third and fourth spot in the table.
Partick appear to be running away with third place, currently holding an eight point advantage over Dunfermline, but nothing is a foregone conclusion in Scotland’s second tier.
The Pars won the League One title last season, achieving an impressive 81 points and have acquitted themselves well.
Morton and Airdrie are arguably two of the most promising teams in the league. Dougie Imrie oversaw a 16-game undefeated run earlier this season which vaulted the side up the table, but they have Airdrie breathing down their necks.
Player-manager Rhys McCabe (yes they still exist) was appointed in the role ahead of the 2022/23 season, going on to secure promotion to the Championship.
This season, Airdrie have displayed a wonderful style of football that proves lower league clubs can still play a possession based game which looks easy on the eye and have success while doing so.
Indeed, McCabe led the Diamonds to Challenge Cup success recently, defeating Welsh side TNS in the final to win the trophy for the first time in 15 years.
They may occupy sixth place, but the club do have two games hand over some of their rivals. The former Rangers player will be looking to use the cup success as a catalyst for an impressive finish to their league campaign.
Murrayball, Dundee United and the race for the title
By all accounts, Dundee United should have won the title by now. Relegated from the Premiership last season, Jim Goodwin’s side certainly have the biggest budget in the division, yet far too often they have looked lackadaisical, losing five and drawing eight of their 31 fixtures thus far.
Hardly the form of runaway league winners, while also having to contend with a spirited Raith Rovers side led by former Rangers and Hibs defender Ian Murray.
The ‘Murrayball’ moniker is obviously a tongue in cheek reference to the Michael Lewis book Moneyball, which features Billy Beane and his sabermetric approach to Baseball in order to overachieve with the Oakland Athletics, who have the lowest budget in the MLB.
Of course, Raith don’t have the lowest budget in the Championship, nor has Murray revolutionised the sport. Considering they finished seventh and fifth in the previous two seasons, something has clicked this season, though, no doubt about it.
Off the pitch, a new board have transformed the club’s prospects, which has seen average attendances rise. While on the field, Murray has installed a never say die approach in his team.
Trailing 2-1 to Queens Park in November with minutes to go and down to ten men, ‘Murrayball’ came into effect. By the time the final whistle went, Raith had won 3-2.
This was followed by late winners against Inverness, Arbroath and Dundee United as the Kirkcaldy club began to give United a run for their money at the top of the table.
Despite losing to the Arabs last weekend, Raith were undefeated against Goodwin’s team across their three previous matches, showing how far they have come since the end of last season.
Murray’s side trail United by four points, albeit with a game in hand, heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
While Arbroath look destined for the drop, the rest of the division is shaping up to have quite the thrilling finish.
All eyes will be on the Old Firm, yet there is plenty more going on in the second tier. The Championship may not just be the most exciting leagues in Scotland, but it has a valid case for being one of the most underappreciated divisions in Britain.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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