Man United risk Casemiro and Fernandes suspensions

SEVILLE, Spain – Erik ten Hag said he was ready to risk Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro against Real Betis on Thursday despite the threat of suspension.

The Manchester United midfield pair are one caution away from missing the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals should Ten Hag’s side advance.

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United lead Betis 4-1 from the first leg in Manchester but Ten Hag insists Fernandes and Casemiro, who has been suspended for four games following his red card against Southampton on Sunday, will play in Spain.

“They will both play because they are very good opponents,” Ten Hag said at a press conference on Wednesday. “We had a good result last week but you need your best players, we need a result, we need a win.”

United are without Antony after the winger missed the trip to Sevilla due to illness. Alejando Garnacho is also out after suffering an ankle ligament injury in the goalless draw with Southampton, but Ten Hag says there is hope the teenager can return before the end of the season.

“It will take weeks so it’s a serious injury,” added the United manager. “Again a serious injury after Christian Eriksen.” He will be back at the end of the season.

“He has to deal with it, deal with the setback and be back at the end of the season. We can win a lot so he has to be ready as soon as possible.”

Garnacho is the latest United player to suffer a long-term injury, after Eriksen and Donny van de Beek. Anthony Martial has also missed most of the season and Ten Hag said injuries in all but one of his games this season prevented him from naming his first choice – a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford im January.

“When you see we’ve had some setbacks all season, every time we dealt with it,” Ten Hag said. “It’s about the players available and every time there’s a team on the pitch that takes care of that.

“In one game we had the whole squad available and I can pick my team for the tactically perfect approach and it’s been at home against Man City this season and every other time a player is suspended, injured or ill.

“We have to deal with it well but Arsenal are always available with their squad.”