‘Too many games’ : Erik Ten Hag reveals how match overload will affect players

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has warned that expanded schedules are making injuries almost unavoidable for overloaded players.

Erik ten Hags’ team are currently preparing for their opener in the new-look Europa League just hours after their goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
However, there have been talks about the amount of game teams will play this season.

Ten hag has now share his take on the number of games players will place as United open their own continental campaign at home to Ten Hag’s former club FC Twente on Wednesday.

“The format I think we have to take this experience and then judge,” Ten Hag said. “But one thing is for sure, I think every match is significant and probably every goal is significant.

“First you get a split after January when the first eight teams qualify (directly to the last 16) and that can help you in February to continue.

“But when you are in the first 24 you can win this competition, so there’s always an option to win it.

“The second part of it we discuss so many times. There are too many games. It’s clear. Too many competitions.

“For the top players, they are overloaded and this is not good for football. In the end of the day it’s maybe good for commercial but there is a limit.

“It’s almost unavoidable that players get injured because of the overload from so many games.”

Asked what can be done to alter this, Ten Hag said: “I think as a club alone you can’t change this. It’s more about the total industry.

“It’s about clubs, players and coaches, so many others who are there in football who have to work to improve the game and find the right balance.

“At the end of the day, it’s financial. Also we are professional, so revenues have to come, but we have to balance this out.”

United head into the Twente encounter after a barren draw against Crystal Palace.That draw followed a 3-0 win at Southampton and 7-0 Carabao Cup defeat of Barnsley, but Ten Hag knows more of a cutting edge is needed.

“Concerned? We create a lot of chances in the first games of the season,” he said. “Last week we scored seven against Barnsley, so we are capable of scoring many goals.

“But it’s a part of the game we have to be better in, we have to improve and kill more in the box.”

Ten Hag came through the youth ranks at Twente and spent three spells there as a player before moving into coaching at the club.