Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag insists that Wout Weghorst will not be available to play Man City tomorrow with the Red Devils “close” to a deal.
The Red Devils face the Citzens in the early Premier League kick-off tomorrow with United looking to end their three-game winless streak in Manchester derbies.
City have won all of the last three encounters with Pep Guardiola’s side hammering Ten Hag’s men 6-3 in their October meeting at the Etihad Stadium with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scoring hat-tricks.
Man Utd have improved a lot since then but Ten Hag has revealed they won’t have new loan signing Weghorst available in time for tomorrow’s clash with the transfer not quite complete.
When asked about the deal for Weghorst, Ten Hag told reporters: “We are close. He will not be available for tomorrow.”
On a shortage of strikers, Ten Hag added: “Weghorst wasn’t even available in the last weeks, it would be a bonus if he was. We have won a lot of games without Anthony Martial.”
And Ten Hag has brought some negative team news ahead of the derby with Diogo Dalot definitely out, while Martial is a doubt.
“Diogo Dalot is not available and Anthony Martial trained this morning, so we have to wait how he recovered from his training and that will be decided tomorrow.
“It is a small thing in his leg so it will be better tomorrow or he will be available for Wednesday.”
While Donny van de Beek will be out for the season, Ten Hag revealed: “I think it is quite positive news.
“Of course, the bad news is he is out for the rest of the season, but the good news is, in the long term, his knee will be okay and he will be ready again to play at the highest levels and will be ready for the start of pre-season.”
Casemiro has been in brilliant form for Man Utd since signing from Real Madrid for £70m in the summer and Ten Hag appreciates his impact.
On the Brazilian, the Man Utd boss said: “That is quite obvious (an impact). I said it from the beginning, this team, needed a No.6. Control, holding midfielder, he is so important. He is the cement between the stones.
“Defence, knows his position, points others into position, winning balls, duels mainly, in possession he can speed up the game. We are really happy to have him on board.”
On whether it is a good time for play Man City, Ten Hag said: “I don’t look, and of course we notice, that they had a setback.
“I have seen the past weeks many games of them. But we have to look at ourselves, we have to play our best game.
“That is what I demand tomorrow from my players. Togetherness with full belief, not naive.”
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