Ten Hag accepts injury situation

Speaking at a press conference at the Allianz Arena, the boss was asked about the issues that have left the Reds without a number of key names for the tough task against Group A's top seeds.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and his fellow defender Harry Maguire have been added to the list of absentees since the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, and both men were missing from the 21-man travelling squad we announced earlier today. 

Raphael Varane and Mason Mount returned to training at Carrington on Tuesday morning but were not risked for the trip to Bavaria, while Kobbie Mainoo and Sofyan Amrabat worked individually, away from the main group.

In terms of Maguire's absence, Ten Hag said: "He had some complaints and we have to see how bad it is. So he finished training but it was not good enough to travel."

When asked if the injury list is troubling him, the boss replied: "Yes, of course, it is a concern. That is why we knew that before, when we constructed the squad with that, so we can deal with it. The squad can deal with it."

The manager reiterated that there is a sense of frustration that he has barely ever been able to field his favoured XI, since taking charge of the club, but accepts this is something that he has to contend with.

"One thing is true, from the start last season, I almost never started with the best, in my opinion, starting XI," he said.

"You have to deal with it and we always got the results in, apart from now."

The manager added: "That is football and I have the experience from the past, it is always going up. You have to deal with it and I like this situation, as you have to deal with it and manage it. You must focus on the process.

"The doctors are dealing with the injury problems. Injuries are always coming in top football, because we are living on the edge.

"Of course, we analyse why things happen, but we have to deal with the facts. It is always about the players who are available and how best we line up."