Erik ten Hag makes shock admission over his preferred Man Utd starting XI

Erik ten Hag insists he has ‘never started his best Manchester United XI’ since arriving at Old Trafford.

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United head to Bayern Munich for their opening game of their Champions League campaign on Wednesday with an ever-growing list of absentees.

10 players are unavailable due to injury with Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka joining that list since Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton. Jadon Sancho and Antony are also unavailable due to separate reasons.

United are back in the Champions League after a third place finish in the league last season with ten Hag also winning the Carabao Cup in a successful first campaign in charge.

But the Dutchman says he is still waiting to field his best side.

‘One thing is true – from the start of last season I don’t think I ever started with, in my opinion, the best starting XI,’ he told a press conference on Tuesday.

‘There was always injuries. We always got results apart from the period that we are in now. I have experienced it in the past and managed it. You have to deal with it.

‘I like these situations because you have to handle it and know what to do, and that is focusing on the process.’

Summer signings Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat are among those currently not available along with first-choice centre-half Raphael Varane.

It had been hoped Mount and Varane would return in time for the trip to Germany but it comes too soon for the pair.

Amrabat, who joined United on loan from Fiorentina on the final day of the summer transfer window, returned to individual training on Tuesday along with 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who was injured during pre-season

Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also sidelined along with Amad Diallo and backup goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Wan-Bissaka picked up a hamstring injury during his short cameo off the bench in the final five minutes against Brighton on Saturday with Harry Maguire not travelling to Germany after complaining of an issue in training this week.

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