Ten Hag explains Sancho and Shaw's absence

Wednesday 01 March 2023 19:06

Erik ten Hag has made his six changes to his Manchester United side for the Emirates FA Cup fifth-round tie against West Ham United.

The Reds boss retains David De Gea, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Antony and Wout Weghorst in his XI from Wembley at the weekend, with Harry Maguire coming in as captain and partnering Victor Lindelof at the heart of the defence.

Tyrell Malacia starts at left-back, with Luke Shaw missing out altogether after being flagged as a doubt, while Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer form the engine room. Fred is fit enough to be on the bench but Jadon Sancho is absent.

Alejandro Garnacho gets the nod on the left flank, with top scorer Marcus Rashford is waiting in the wings on the bench.

Ten Hag's pre-match interview Video

Ten Hag's pre-match interview

Erik explains what he wants to see from his team and why Sancho and Shaw are out...

"The reason [for rotation] is we have a good team because we have a good squad," he told ITV. "The players have to take responsibility.

"We win the Carabao Cup, not with 11 but with the whole squad. In this cup, we also want to win and also we need the dressing room, the whole dressing room."

In a separate interview with MUTV, he stated it is about using the squad. "Six changes but the rules and principles are the same.

"One is ill [Sancho], one has a small injury [Shaw]. We hope not too bad, we have to see how it develops until Sunday [when we play at Liverpool]. He is not available for tonight but we have good players in the squad who can replace that."

THE TEAMS

United: De Gea; Dalot, Maguire (c), Lindelof, Malacia; Sabitzer, McTominay; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Weghorst.

Substitutes: Heaton, Martinez, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Fred, Elanga, Pellistri, Rashford.

West Ham: Areola; Johnson, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson; Rice (c), Soucek; Benrahma, Paqueta, Fornals; Antonio. 

Substitutes:
Anang, Cresswell, Kehrer, Downes, Simon-Swyer, Bowen, Lanzini, Mubama, Scamacca.

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