(Football news) Erik ten Hag said that Manchester United have had a fully fit squad only once this season while Arsenal have had a full team throughout. The Dutch manager also confirmed that Alejandro Garnacho will be unavailable for a few weeks while Antony and Anthony Martial have also not travelled to Spain in the upcoming match against Real Betis. Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek are long term absentees but Casemiro is available as his four game suspension is only for four domestic games.

Speaking in the pre-match conference ahead of the match, Erik ten Hag said “Man City home [2-1 victory in January], it was the only time this season [that United had a fully fit squad], in other times, every time, every game there is a player suspended, injured, illness. So we have to deal with it well, of course, you hope. I see Arsenal, they almost always have a squad that is totally available.” The Red Devils could face rivals Arsenal if they progress into the quarter-finals and Erik ten Hag has admitted that there is a gap between themselves and Mikel Arteta’s team.

“The Premier League was never that difficult as now; there are so many competitors. It is not a two-horse race; it is a five, six, seven-horse race. For what we want, there are six or seven clubs more [who want the same]. We are capable of doing it but we are aware within the club that we still have steps to go.

“I think we have made good progress, but we also have to acknowledge that there is still a gap. I couldn’t expect us to close that gap quickly. We are trying to win every game and we have beaten all of the top teams. We are capable of doing it. We have to take the next step to do it more consistently. With time, we can do it.”

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