Erik ten Hag hits back at Wayne Rooney’s claim about United players faking injuries

Erik ten Hag has hit back at WayneRooney'scomments that some of Manchester United players who were seemingly injured were actually fit enough to play but refused to do so to avoid the heat.The United manager retaliatedsayingallofhis injured players were "desperate"to be involved.

The Dutch manager has been without his top players throughoutthe season, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rasford and Harry Maguire facing a race against timein order tobe fit for the Wembley FA Cup final against Manchester City.

“No. You have to see here in Carrington [at the ­training centre] the players are ­desperate to play. I see Licha [Lisandro] ­Martínez, I see Bruno [Fernandes] – he did a ­fitness test on Sunday to play. ­[Marcus] Rashford did everything he could do. He trained and tried to train last weekbuthedidn’tmake it,"Ten Hag said.

"Players are desperate to play, theywant to be in the right shape. You see also Victor Lindelöf and Raphaël Varane, they are training to make themselves available for the [FA Cup] final. They do what they can do.”

What did Rooney say?

Notably, after the match against Arsenalwhere Unitedsuffered a 0-1 loss, following a first-half goal from Leandro Trossard, Rooney made the sensational claim.

The former United captain said:"As we look at the injuriesthey'vepicked up, some of those players canplay,100 percent."

"When you have the European Championship coming up and an FA Cup final,it'seasy for players to stay out of it a little bit, get back for the final and make surethey'reready for the European Championship.I'veseen it myself over the years," added Rooney.

Rooney, who was recently fired as Birmingham City manager, said the brunt of players pulling out of the matches will be then faced by Ten Hag who has to square up against the media.

"Theplayers who are injuredare not filling themselves in any credit at the minute. The manager is going to take all the stick for that."

United under Ten Hag have been playing a poor brand of football, not normally associated with the club. Though injuries have ravaged the United squad, there are clear tactical lapses present in the squad that boils down to Ten Hag and his coaching philosophy.

The United manager will have the opportunity to redeem himself as his side squares up against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, later this month.

(With inputs from agencies)