Key quotes: Erik on Casemiro's return and Rashford's form
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has delivered a fresh injury update regarding recently absent midfielder Casemiro.
With a busy end to the season approaching, United return to Premier League action against Brentford on Saturday evening (20:00 GMT) with the onus on pushing forward towards a potential top-four finish.
Also quizzed on the form of Marcus Rashford and the fitness of Anthony Martial, you can scroll down a little further to read some of the standout quotes from the second part of Erik's pre-match media briefing...
Part two: Press conference v Brentford
Press conference part two | Erik chats Casemiro, Martial and Gareth Southgate ahead of Saturday's clash with the Bees...
“It's difficult to point [at which] game he [Luke Shaw] will return. But the plan is that he will return, and before the end of the season so that he can still be involved in some games in this season. Casemiro, he has now had some sessions on the field, on the pitch also yesterday in the team training. So we're making good progress, and we have to assess when we go tomorrow if he already gets a start or that we wait.”
MARTIAL LATEST
“Martial is back on the pitch as well, but not in the team yet. It depends on him and how quickly is he back and what are the levels. What [he] is showing.”
MAINOO'S CARABAO CUP FINAL CHAT
“You remember that? Good. I remember as well. I said your day will come and going on a journey and we're going to win together trophies and your day is coming, your day that you will be part of it on the pitch. And we're going there together and we're going there together with this club. We are in the process todevelop and we are here to win titles. And so take this moment,take that experience and now you know where you are fighting for.”
RASHFORD'S RECENT FORM
“It's up to the manager of England [whether to play him]. But of course, he knows there is a lot of competition in his position and of course he will have some, I think [he has] a lot of credit because already he [has] contributed so many times. [He is] fantastic for England and for us, but of course he wants to be there. But I think also he wants to win. He wants to win with us. He wants to win trophies. And we are in a position to win a trophy. And he wants to be in the Champions League. So absolutely he wants to contribute and he wants to perform.”
Ten Hag’s update on Martinez
ArticleThe boss has addressed Lisandro’s availability for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Brentford.
“We [have] missed [Tyrell] Malacia for the whole season. We missed [Luke] Shaw for many games. We lost [Lisandro] Martinez for many, many games. So yeah, [also] Casemiro, Mason Mount. I know every manager has injuries and you have to deal with it. But I think this season was bad for us in that way and has really had an impact on the way of play and it had a really an impact also on the results we have. But yeah, it's the truth. But I can't think about this. I have to think forward. I have to think about the future and how we get this right and how we get those players back. And what is the good news that it looks like players are returning. And so by the end of the season when we go in the final stage, 10 games to go in the league and hopefully two in the cup. And then when we can have a squad where [we are] covering all the positions, then it can be a very good end of the season.”
“Did you see the game against Liverpool? How good we were on [the] transition? There was a lot of transitions there. No, but we can play very good on transition. But on the other hand and that is then the process we are not always, we came through that process by that point. We also have to recognise where we have to keep the ball, to keep the ball longer. Otherwise we are coming into a tennis match and when we want to play tennis, we go to Wimbledon. We want to play football and we have to [find] the good and the strong points we have to build it and to construct those moments. But on the other hand, we have to read the game and we have to control also in some moments the game by keeping the ball.”