Man Utd staff identify Erik ten Hag's biggest dressing room problem amid glaring absence
Manchester United ‘s coaching staff believe there is a lack of a vocal presence in the dressing room – which has contributed to their decline this term.
The Red Devils lost for the 13th time in the Premier League when they were hammered at Crystal Palace on Monday night. The club now face the threat of missing out on European football with those inside the camp noting that the group is quieter.
That has been attributed to the absence of Lisandro Martinez, who has missed the majority of the season. The Argentinean has been sidelined for months but was renowned as a vocal figure in the dressing room and his absence has been noted as a reason for their inconsistencies.
Whilst the World Cup winner is not the only vocal player, his presence is seen as vital in creating a winning mentality and driving the squad on, reports the Guardian. Martínez has played only five times since September 20 having been a regular in his debut campaign.
The Argentinean suffered another injury setback when he hobbled off against West Ham United three months ago and Ten Hag commented: “He is very important for us. He brings spirit to the team, aside from his football ability. We can only pray.”
Ten Hag’s future is again under the spotlight after the defeat to the Eagles, which saw United produce another lacklustre showing. It isn’t the first time the Manchester outfit have underwhelmed and their manager has copped flack for their poor season.
He’s often pointed to the raft of injuries he’s had to deal with as a major hindrance. On Monday night he was without Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire as his central defensive options were decimated.
Lisandro Martinez has been missing for much of the season
Ten Hag maintains he is “absolutely” the right man to take the club forward, especially if he has a fully fit squad to pick from. He said: “If the right players are there and available, we have a good squad, but we missed almost a whole back line and then we have problems.”
Sir Jim Ratciffe has recently arrived at Old Trafford and begun making sweeping changes off the pitch. Ten Hag’s future is therefore under the microscope with a decision expected once the season ends.
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