Erik ten Hag shows compassionate side with gesture as Manchester United youngster stretchered off in pre-season
08/04/2024 06:50 AM
Erik ten Hag walked onto the pitch to console Manchester United youngster Will Fish as he was stretchered off.
United were playing Liverpool in a pre-season friendly in Columbia, South Carolina, going on to lose 3-0 with goals from Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas.
But there were more injury troubles for the Red Devils with Fish having to be stretchered off at the Williams-Brice Stadium following a collision with Liverpool youngster Harvey Blair.
The 21-year-old looked devastated after coming off worse from the challenge and needed a stretcher to help him leave the field.
Ten Hag was so concerned for the defender that he strode over from the dugout to check up on the player.
The Dutchman then consoled the youngster as he laid on the floor.
This pre-season tour of the United States has been one problem after another for the club.
Summer signing Leny Yoro suffered a serious injury on his debut for the club following his £52million move from Lille, which has ruled him out for three months.
Rasmus Hojlund has also been ruled out for a significant amount of time while there were problems for Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans as well as Marcus Rashford and Antony earlier in the summer.
Ten Hag told MUTV: “Always, we have to see what has gone on. The assessment, of course, with Will Fish is it's an impact injury.
“We also had to sub Jonny Evans at half-time because he was ill. Victor Lindelof [was] a precaution. So, yeah, there are some injuries, but we have to see how bad it will be."
Fish had been excited about facing Liverpool and saw it as an opportunity to make a case for a first-team squad slot, having also featured in United’s 3-2 win over Real Betis earlier this summer.
“You know, you’re at one of the best clubs in the world,” he told MUTV.
“And to be out here in America, it’s a surreal experience. So you take each day as it comes and just do your best. That’s all you can do.
“People who know me, that’s how I take life [in my stride]. I don’t really get too high or too low, and I think that helps in football at times.
“Sometimes, you obviously need to be more up for it and, you know, times like that, I can be.
“But I try not to think about it too much and just take each day as it comes.”
United’s pre-season tour has now come to an end as they prepare to jet back to England.
They face Manchester City next Saturday at Wembley in the Community Shield before their Premier League season starts on August 16 against Fulham.
