Erik ten Hag hints he will consider rotating Manchester United star

Erik ten Hag has suggested will begin rotating members of his Manchester United squad, including Christian Eriksen.

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The Denmark international joined United on a free transfer in the summer and has been almost ever present in ten Hag’s starting XI, starting and completing five of their nine league matches and playing at least 83 minutes in the others.

Ten Hag has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes to his side for Europa League games, with Eriksen himself playing the full 90 in games against FC Sheriff and Omonia following an opening week defeat at home to Real Sociedad.

When asked about the possibility of resting the former Tottenham star, ten Hag told a press conference on Wednesday: ‘All the players, we have to manage their game time and that’s what I do all the time.

‘That is why we have the squad with double positioning, not only with fit [players] but adapt to quality players in all of the positions.

‘If we have to rotate with injuries or someone loses their shape we can replace players with different options and that’s good.’

Europa League group winners will automatically go through to the last 16 stage of the competition but runners up will face a knockout tie against sides dropping down from the Champions League in February.

United currently sit in second place after that defeat to Real Sociedad. Ten Hag has once again stressed the importance of his side topping their group, eager to avoid tricky ties in the New Year,

‘I told the players weeks ago before the break it was important to get number one in this group, so that will be our aim,’ ten Hag said.

‘Our aim is to win all of the games but it’s clear we want to avoid that if it’s the way. If you want to win you have to win them all.’

‘I think all the clubs have the same problem, the clubs who play in Europe, but we have a squad to cover that, all the opportunities will double, injuries will be there, suspensions will be there and then you have to deal with it as a squad.’

On United’s approach on Thursday, he added: ‘All out for the victory (against Omonia). The first game is always the most important.

‘It’s Europe, it’s tough, we want to be number one in the group, so we have to win the game.’

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