Frustrated Ten Hag faces rest of season without left-back

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag says he risks playing the rest of the season without a recognized left-back due to injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia and revealed on-loan Sergio Reguilón has been cleared from January because he had been insured by a doctor. staff that the pair would be fit for the second half of the campaign.

Malacia, according to Ten Hag, is unlikely to play at all this season as he continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered last summer.

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Shaw, meanwhile, has an outside chance of being ready for “the final matches”, but he is already doubtful for the European Championships in Germany due to a muscle problem.

In their absence, Ten Hag were forced to use central defender Victor Lindelöf and midfielder Sofyan Amrabat at left back, which is now expected to continue for the remaining months of the campaign.

“We're talking about one of my biggest frustrations,” Ten Hag said when asked about Shaw and Malacia.

“You can accept in a position that a player is not available, but when two players are not available during the season it is very frustrating, because it is also very difficult to catch up as a team , but we coped with it. in the best way, but this is of course a disadvantage.”

United signed Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon as emergency cover last summer and the Spaniard made 12 appearances in all competitions for the Ten Hag side. But his loan spell was cut short in January and the 27-year-old is now on loan at Brentford.

“In December, I had internal interviews, with doctors and performance [staff]” said Ten Hag, when asked why Reguilon was allowed to leave.

“They assured me that they [Shaw and Malacia] will both be fit in January and you will therefore have two left backs. Then you have a third, so I would always have to disappoint a full-back.” Malacia has not played for United since May and played his last competitive match in the Netherlands' 4-2 defeat to Croatia in June.

Shaw has not played since United's 2-1 win over Luton Town in February and has been limited to just 15 appearances in all competitions this season.

“I think it's going to be difficult for him [Malacia] this season to be available,” Ten Hag said.

“He's going to fight, he's back on the field, but not in the team and the process has had some setbacks for him and he's still moving very slowly, and the season is coming to an end.

“I think it's the same [for Shaw]maybe for the last few games of the season, but we don't expect him to come back this month or next month.”