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Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Anthony Martial is still unwell.
In the press conference prior to tomorrow’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, the coach was asked if the Frenchman was still ill and if it was serious.
“He’s not feeling well, he’s not available,” he responded flatly.
It was an awkward moment in what was otherwise a very relaxed and cheerful performance by the coach.
He then answered a question about Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Hannibal and Martial in the final six months of their United contracts and whether there was any news about them.
“We speak with the players and of course with their agents, so this is an internal process, between us, the players and their agents. “I can’t debate this here.”
The manager laughed when asked what setbacks he felt United had apart from injuries.
“I can’t list that in a press conference, it takes 45 minutes to list all the injuries we’ve had.
“We have had 10 associations in central defense, for example. That’s just one thing. But I have also said it many times, it cannot be an excuse.
“We have to win every game. And I think sometimes we have been pragmatic. But, for example, against Villa, you see our style, you see our identity, how we can play, how fast we can play and also how we can build from the back.
How do you make sure your fullbacks push higher?
“It depends from one game to the next, if we talk about tactics. Where are the spaces? At what moments, the timings, do you attack those spaces? It depends from game to game, in some parts of the game you want your full-backs to be low.”
Ten Hag also confirmed that there will be no winter training camp this season.
