May 12th 2024.
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, was understandably upset after yet another loss for his team. The Red Devils had just been defeated by Arsenal in their home stadium, adding to the string of disappointing performances this season. Ten Hag was particularly angry with a journalist who asked a question he deemed "pathetic" during the post-match press conference.
With this defeat, United's chances of finishing the season with a decent ranking were beginning to look slim. As the pressure on Ten Hag increased, so did his impatience with the media, who were constantly speculating about his future with the team. The 1-0 loss to Arsenal marked the 14th time this season that United had been defeated in the Premier League, breaking a club record.
One of the main reasons for United's struggles was their long list of injured players. Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, Viktor Lindelof, and Tyrell Malacia were all absent from the game against Arsenal due to injury. Ten Hag made it clear that players like Fernandes and Rashford would not be playing in the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City unless they could prove their fitness.
The absence of key players had a significant impact on United's performance, and Ten Hag was quick to point this out. When asked how big the gap to Arsenal would be if he had a fully fit squad, the manager's response was filled with frustration. "That is pathetic," he said. "We don't have to answer this question right now, because it isn't relevant. The injuries have affected our results, and I can only imagine how much better we would be if all our players were available."
This was not the first time that Arsenal had defeated United this season, having also won the previous match between the two teams. As for the future, Ten Hag had a clear message for his players - if they wanted to play in important games like the FA Cup final, they needed to prove their fitness and get game practice beforehand.
Meanwhile, club legend Wayne Rooney made a shocking claim that some of United's injured players might not actually be injured. According to him, some players were using their "injuries" as an excuse to avoid playing and save themselves for the upcoming European Championships. Rooney had seen this happen before and believed that these players were not showing any commitment to the team.
As United faced more scrutiny and criticism, Ten Hag and his players would have to find a way to turn things around. The team had already put seven players up for sale ahead of the summer transfer window, signaling that changes were needed. Fans could only hope that United would bounce back and finish the season strong.
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