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Erik ten Hag’s strategy to address Manchester United’s injury woes has come under scrutiny from Rui Faria, a long-time ally of Jose Mourinho.
Faria, who served as Mourinho’s assistant at Old Trafford during the Red Devils’ 2016/17 EFL Cup and Europa League triumphs, has a wealth of experience, having worked alongside the legendary manager at Porto, Chelsea, Inter, and Real Madrid.
With an impressive resume that includes nearly every major club honor, the 49-year-old’s opinions on squad management carry significant weight.
United faced numerous injury issues last season, which Ten Hag cited as a primary reason for the team’s eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
In response, the Dutchman is exploring ways to mitigate such problems this season.
However, new signing Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund have already encountered injury setbacks.
Yoro is expected to be sidelined for approximately three months, delaying his competitive debut until November.
Rui Faria questions Ten Hag’s plans
Ten Hag’s approach to reducing injury problems involves expanding the size of his squad.
“We are always looking for having squad depth cover for all the positions as possible double, because we know we go into the season and it’s a survival of the fittest,” Ten Hag explained during a media session discussing United’s transfer plans.
Rui Faria, however, appeared to criticise this method in an Instagram post. “The ‘survival of the fittest’… Or the survival of those who work better?” he questioned.
“Is increasing the size of your squad the secret to Premier League success? Does a team achieve stability of performance by building a 30-man squad?
When a club suffers injury after injury, the solution is not squad depth, it’s improving the quality of work delivered to the players!”
The differing philosophies highlight a significant debate in modern football management.
While Ten Hag emphasises squad depth to ensure all positions are well-covered, Faria suggests that the focus should be on enhancing the quality of training and preparation to prevent injuries in the first place.
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