Ten Hag: I would have won 75 per cent of my games at Man Utd with more luck

Omari Forson is missing through injury, marking 48th separate case of an absentee through injury or illness this season

Erik ten Hag claims he would have won 75 per cent of his games as Manchester United manager were it not for this season’s injury crisis at Old Trafford.
The United boss marked his 100th game in charge of the club in last weekend’s derby defeat at City, leaving him with 61 victories from that century.
But as he prepared for game No 101 at home to Everton on Saturday, he claimed his success rate would be even more impressive but for his current injury problems.
“It tells you that we are in the right direction,” Ten Hag said. “So imagine we had many more players available and not setbacks and injuries, we could easy have 75 wins and that tells the bright future of this team.
“When you compare it with other managers, other teams, or previous managers in this big club you can see there is a bright future. It is a good balance in ages in this squad.
“Young players, middle-aged players, imagine when they are available, could easily have won from 100 games 75. It is a big difference with the stats you mentioned.”
By comparison, Pep Guardiola’s career win rate with City is just over 72 per cent, and Jurgen Klopp’s 61 per cent with Liverpool.
A win rate of 60 per cent still makes Ten Hag the most successful manager, in terms of win percentage, of any manager who was in charge of the club for more than three games in United history.
Sir Alex Ferguson averaged fractionally less – 59.67 per cent – although his achievement was considerably more impressive coming over 1,500 career games. Sir Matt Busby averaged a shade over 50 per cent in his 1,141 games in charge.
Nobody would seriously compare Ten Hag with that duo but the fact does remain that his second season in charge has been undermined by injuries.
Young winger Omari Forson is missing against Everton through injury, marking the 48th separate case of an absentee through injury or illness this season.
“No team can deal with so many injuries,” Ten Hag said. “I think we played to maximum levels if you take in respect the availability of the players.
“We missed so many key players over the part of the season, the performances we have seen when the players are available in January and February, the performances are very good, when the players were not even fit. They could do even better.
“The project is going in the right direction when we have the players available.
“Top football is about winning games, we’re working, keep working on better performances, we want to play on maximum levels and when the players are available, good players, in key positions you miss players who have a very high impact on the way we want to play.”
One player who is showing no sign of returning is Mason Mount, who has started just four games since his £55 million summer signing from Chelsea, with a hamstring problem his latest injury.
“I think he is in a good spell now and he will return shortly, I think after the international break,” Ten Hag said.
“For next week, some players are planning to return, hopefully when the process will continue like it is now – Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, I expect them to be available for our [FA Cup] game against Liverpool. Rasmus Hojlund as well.”