Ten Hag insists he’s not to blame for Man Utd’s striker nightmare as Hojlund injury leaves boss without No 9

10 months ago 78

ERIK TEN HAG insists he did not blunder by failing to sign another striker — despite losing Rasmus Hojlund to injury.

Anthony Martial is also out after undergoing groin surgery in January.

Boss Ten Hag said the Frenchman’s £250,000-a-week wages wrecked hopes of signing a new forward due to financial fair play rules.

Ten Hag said: “Striker options are most difficult to fill in. Especially on our level.

“We had two strikers. Martial did great things last season. He is also on high payment, in this club.

“When you bring another one in, you strike him out. So there are all arguments not to do it.

“Then Marcus can play very good from that front position. So actually we had three strikers in our squad.”

United could not move Martial in the last two transfer windows because he was injured.

And there was no room to bring another frontman in having already paid £64million for Hojlund.

Ten Hag added: “I got the news about Martial at the start of January and really tried to get another striker in. FFP was the thing.

We couldn’t do it. I wanted to bring in a striker in the winter, but it was not possible.

“We worked out other options how to deal in the moment Rasmus wouldn’t be available.”

Hojlund, 21, who has scored in six successive Premier League games, will miss next Wednesday’s FA Cup trip to Nottingham Forest and the

Manchester derby against City a week on Sunday.

The out-of-form Antony could return on the right, with Alejandro Garnacho on the left to allow Rashford to move up front.

Ten Hag has tried to protect Antony from criticism since his £85.5m switch from Ajax.

The boss said: “He has to prove a point, but he will do. He has a big potential, he hasn’t shown it lately, but I know what his talent is.”

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