Erik ten Hag explains why Luke Shaw missed Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest

United travelled to the City Ground on Wednesday night for the first leg of their semi-final tie, as the the Red Devils look to book their place in the final at Wembley.

Ten Hag made three changes from their last game, the 3-2 loss at Arsenal last Sunday, with Casemiro returning from suspension to replace McTominay in midfield, while Victor Lindelof came into centre-back to give Raphael Varane some rest.

Finally, Tyrell Malacia replaced Shaw at left-back, a change that could be expected so the latter could be rested, but surprisingly the England international was not even named on the bench.

Thankfully, it does not sound as if the defender has been injured, with Ten Hag explaining ahead of kick-off: ‘He [Shaw] is ill.’

The United manager also had to make do without captain Harry Maguire for the game who missed out through suspension after picking up a yellow card in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Charlton.

‘We want to win every game, so every game we put up the best team,’ Ten Hag told MUTV as he explained his line up for the Forest game.

‘We rely on him [Lindelof]. We have to use this squad, but all the players in this squad are able to play, and once their time [comes], they have to deliver.

‘It’s always about the team performance and I think they know what to do out of rules and principles. It’s a great night, a semi-final, so we have to play our best.’

Ten Hag will no doubt hope to have Shaw back for United’s next match on Saturday, when they host Reading in the FA Cup fourth round.

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