# Manchester United Injury Crisis Ahead of Champions League Opener Against Bayern Munich
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is facing an injury crisis ahead of his side’s Champions League opener against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ten Hag is without 12 first-team players, including Raphael Varane, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire, who have not travelled to Munich.
The Red Devils have made an underwhelming start to the Premier League season, losing three of their first five games. Ten Hag is also missing forwards Antony and Jadon Sancho, who are not training with the squad at present, plus Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek, who is not registered for European games.
Speaking ahead of the game, Ten Hag said: “There was always something, but you have to deal with it. I think I never started the best starting XI. That is football. You have to deal with it. I love these situations. You have to know what to do and focus on the process.”
Varane and Mount both took part in the open section of training at United’s Carrington training centre on Tuesday morning to raise hopes they would be able to return from injury for the opening game in Group A, which also includes Turkey’s Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen from Denmark. However, centre-back Maguire picked up an injury during training which rules him out of the game.
Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday leaves United 13th in the Premier League table, but Ten Hag says his side are not in need of a major reset. “No, we don’t feel we need that,” he said. “We are in a process. In parts of the game we play well. In parts of the game we play below our levels. We need to be consistent for 90 plus minutes.”
Ten Hag’s injury-hit side will have their work cut out for them when they face Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday night. The Bundesliga champions are one of the favourites to win the Champions League this season and will be looking to get off to a winning start in Group A.
It remains to be seen whether Ten Hag will be able to get his side back to winning ways despite the injury crisis, but one thing is for sure – Manchester United will have to be at their very best if they are to get a result against Bayern Munich.