Erik ten Hag Decides To Start 2 Key Man United Players Against Real Betis, Risking Suspension

Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag has confirmed that despite being just one yellow card away from suspension, both Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes will be in the starting lineup against Real Betis today.

United are currently leading in their last 16 tie, having secured a 4-1 victory over the La Liga side at Old Trafford last week.

Although both players risk missing the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals if they qualify, ten Hag has decided to start them in the match against Betis.

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This decision comes despite the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham on Sunday, and the potential temptation to rest key players.

Casemiro was previously suspended for a crucial game against Arsenal in January, after receiving a booking in a match against Crystal Palace four days earlier.

Nevertheless, ten Hag remains committed to fielding both players for the match in Seville.

‘They will play,’ ten Hag told a press conference on Wednesday.

‘It is a very good opponent, last week we had a good result but we have to go again and we need our best players. We need a win and we need our best team.’

United will be without winger Alejandro Garnacho for Thursday’s game with the 18-year-old winger facing weeks on the sidelines as the result of the ankle injury suffered in the goalless draw against Southampton.

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‘He [Garnacho] will be back before the end of the season,’ ten Hag said of the youngster. ‘We need to get him back as soon as possible and we hope he is ready.’

Antony has also not traveled to Spain with ten Hag confirming the Brazil international misses out through illness. Anthony Martial is another who has not made the trip.

With Casemiro facing a four-game domestic ban, United’s squad will be stretched to its limits for the season run-in but ten Hag is hopeful he has the options at his disposal to continue delivering results.

“We can manage. We have players that can recover good in between games. We are in contact with medical and performance about what players can handle. We can mix it.

‘When we are going into the final stages of the season, we can bring our best team.’