SUMMARY
- Manchester United confirmed that Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are out with injuries.
- United's hopes of Champions League qualification look bleak after Varane and Evans' injury.
The 2023-24 season keeps getting worse for Manchester United after the club confirmed that they have lost two more players due to injuries. United has had their work cut out this season with poor results on the pitch and a long list of injuries. However, United’s hopes for a top-four finish have taken a huge blow after losing two of their best defenders.
In a statement issued by the club a few hours ago, Manchester United confirmed that Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans have been sidelined with injuries. Varane reportedly sustained a muscular injury during United’s recent 3-4 defeat against Chelsea. The French former international will be out for the next few weeks depending upon further tests and his recovery.
🚨 Raphael Varane will be out for the next few weeks with a muscle injury sustained during our game against Chelsea last week.
Club confirms also that Jonny Evans will miss Saturday’s game against Bournemouth with a short-term muscle issue. pic.twitter.com/T5ChI09AhA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 11, 2024
On the other hand, defender Jonny Evans has also been ruled out for Manchester United’s upcoming league clash against Bournemouth this weekend. While Evans’ injury is also muscular, the Irishman’s return will be much sooner than Varane’s. Losing Varane and Evans at such a crucial stage of the season will be a huge concern for coach Erik ten Hag.
With Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Victor Lindelof all injured, Evans and Varane have done a great job in leading the Manchester United defense. It is expected that Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala will be starting against Bournemouth this Saturday. However, after the 56th injury setback of the season for Ten Hag’s side who are currently sixth in the league, United’s top four dreams have now become increasingly faint.
Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United’s Champions League dreams have become bleak
Most recently, Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag lamented the club’s long injury list that has plagued them this season. Speaking in an interview earlier this month, Ten Hag admitted that United’s hopes of a top-four finish have taken a huge hit due to the club losing several of their best players due to injuries.
Ten Hag said, “I know it will be very difficult because we are not in a good position. We will keep fighting until the end, but I know we are not in a good position.” Manchester United, with 49 points from 31 games, are 11 points behind the fifth-placed Aston Villa and also 11 points behind the fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
“I know we are not in a good position”
Erik ten Hag says he’s realistic about Manchester United’s slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, ahead of tonight’s visit to Chelsea:
🕕 Total Sport from 6pm
🏟️ Live from Stamford Bridge#MUFC #CFC #bbcfootball— BBC Sport Manchester (@BBCRMsport) April 4, 2024
With just seven games remaining this season, it will be an uphill task for Erik ten Hag to lead his side to a fourth-place finish and thereby qualify for the Champions League. However, United could still qualify for Europe’s premier competition even if they finish sixth in the league. Currently, Premier League side West Ham, who are seventh in the league, face Bayer Leverkusen in the final of the Europa League.
🚨 Manchester United could still qualify for the Champions League next season by finishing 6th due to a UEFA rule change.
If West Ham wins the Europa League and finish 5th, Manchester United would qualify for the Champions League if they finished 6th.
(Source: @talkSPORT) pic.twitter.com/I4YOk65IHn
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) April 10, 2024
If David Moyes’ West Ham wins the Europa League and finishes fifth in the league, it would automatically open up another spot for a Premier League team according to UEFA’s rules. Therefore, Erik ten Hag would be keeping his fingers crossed and praying for West Ham’s success if he fails to lead his team to a top-four finish.
Raphael Varane opens up about his long-term health concerns from playing soccer
Meanwhile, Manchester United defender Raphael Varane opened up about his health concerns last week. During an interview with the French news outlet L’Equipe, Varane admitted that playing soccer has led to him suffering multiple concussions throughout his career. The former Real Madrid star suspects that these concussions have been caused by heading the ball.
Varane said, “Even if it does not cause immediate trauma, we know that in the long term, repeated shocks are likely to have harmful effects. I don’t know if I will live to be 100, but I know that I have damaged my body.” Varane disclosed that earlier this season, he felt unusually tired after a match because of heading the ball repeatedly. He has also remained absent for several matches this season due to “micro-concussions“.
The 30-year-old center-back further revealed that he had suffered concussions before France’s 2014 World Cup quarterfinal against Germany and before Real Madrid’s round of 16 clash against Manchester City. Lastly, the United star confessed that he has advised his son not to head the ball while playing and he also urged soccer players all around the world to be more open if they suffer concussion symptoms.