Erik ten Hag has not ruled out the possibility of making loan signings to address the injury and illness challenges that threaten to disrupt Manchester United's efforts to salvage their troubled season.
During Monday's FA Cup third-round match against Wigan, Ten Hag had to navigate without at least 10 senior players. Christian Eriksen was absent due to illness, and Antony suffered an injury, leaving United's substitutes composed entirely of youngsters, with 22-year-old Facundo Pellistri as the oldest outfield player on the bench.
While optimistic that some players could return for the upcoming Premier League clash against Tottenham, Ten Hag acknowledges the strain on his squad. With the January transfer window open, the Dutch coach is open to considering both temporary and permanent signings.
"We consider everything. So what is in the best interests of the players and also the best interests of us, the team, at Manchester United? So we'll see how we progress during the window," he stated.
United is currently out of the Champions League and League Cup, sitting in eighth place in the Premier League, nine points behind the top four. Despite the challenges, Ten Hag refuses to use the depleted squad as an excuse for their recent poor run of form.
"I don't want to be frustrated because I can do nothing for it; it will not help to support the team," Ten Hag emphasized. "So we have to get the best performance and best results with the players available, and that's what we're trying to do."
Ten Hag is hopeful that Eriksen, Luke Shaw, and Harry Maguire could return for the upcoming weekend match against Spurs. The FA Cup remains United's primary opportunity for silverware this season, and Ten Hag stresses the significance of taking every game in the competition seriously.
