31 January 2023 , 22:30
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Erik ten Hag has slammed Andy Carroll for the dangerous tackle that has wrecked Christian Eriksen's season.
Eriksen has been ruled out for at least three months following the reckless challenge on him by Reading striker Carroll in Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup win last Saturday. United midfielder Eriksen left Old Trafford on crutches and could be out until early May following the tackle from Carroll that did not even earn him a booking.
Carroll was eventually sent off for two subsequent yellow cards, but Ten Hag criticised the former Liverpool striker for the Eriksen challenge, claiming such actions have no place in football.
“I'm disappointed about that,” said Ten Hag. “I think football has to set limits, restrictions, that protect the players. What football wants is the best players to be available on the pitch.
“This is a tackle - and the two tackles after it – that don’t belong on a pitch, because there is a high risk of injuring your colleague. So, it's worse and I'm left wondering about that.
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“I'm also wondering more, when we were at Crystal Palace, there was an elbow on Lisandro Martinez. I don't believe there was even a whistle for a free kick and I'm wondering about such things, because it's a risk of injury for the player.”
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Manchester United's Christian Eriksen (left) and Reading's Andy Carroll (Martin Rickett/PA Wire)Asked if he felt Carroll had deliberately tried to hurt United's players, Ten Hag added: “I made my view about that. I think it was quite clear what my thoughts were.”
Eriksen's enforced long-term absence has left Ten Hag with just two fit central midfielders in Brazil duo Casemiro and Fred, with Scott McTominay also sidelined through injury. “It's a concern and one of the things you have to deal with,” the United boss added.
“In January, Donny van de Beek dropped out for the rest of the season, Christian for part of the season and also Scott isn't available for a week, two weeks, maybe even longer. So, we have a challenge there. We have quality players there, that is obvious, but the depth is not there any more.”