As the absences threatened to pile up for Manchester United, the last thing Erik ten Hag needed was to learn that one of his most consistent performers was set for a spell on the sidelines himself.
Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire all picked up injuries in the last two weeks, while Luke Shaw suffered a set-back which could keep Manchester United’s first-choice left-back on the sidelines for another month at least.
And then came the very unwelcome news that Noussair Mazrazoui had undergone surgery with the Man United full-back suffering from heart palpitations, per The Athletic.
Fortunately, the issue does not appear to be as serious as first feared.
Morocco boss plays down concerns over Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui
Mazraoui, who pulled out of the Morocco squad for this months’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Central African Republic, could be back in action as early as next month’s international break.
That is according to Atlas Lions boss Walid Regragui, playing down concerns that the former Ajax and Bayern Munich man will be out for the foreseeable future.
“Mazraoui left his team’s match due to an injury,” Regragui said at a press conference. “We received a special medical report, and we spoke with the player, who confirmed that his injury is not serious.
“[It] is a minor injury. We hope that he will be ready in November.”
The Athletic themselves added that Mazraoui hopes to be back on the field ‘in the next few weeks’.
A timely boost for Ten Hag, then, ahead of a period of games which could decide his Old Trafford future. The Dutchman appears to have survived the axe for now, but the phrase ‘stay of execution’ comes to mind with Ineos seemingly looking into alternatives already.
Man United have been linked with Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi over in Italy, while Mazraoui could find himself working under former Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel again should the Red Devils pick up where they left off over the summer in talks with the out-of-work German.
Mazraoui has a good relationship with United boss Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag’s departure would likely come as a disappointment to the Ajax academy graduate.
Mazraoui worked under Ten Hag in the Netherlands, and the admiration between player and coach is very much mutual.
“I know – or, let’s say, I knew – how good a player he is,” Ten Hag told reporters in September. “I think he improved even a lot from his period in Germany. He is even a better player than I had at Ajax.
“His development as a player and as a person is tremendous and impressive, so I hope he keeps this process going.”
“[Ten Hag being at Man United helped me] to settle down easier,” Mazraoui said himself, joining alongside Matthijs de Ligt.
“Because I knew some players here and I came together with Matthijs, [that] makes life easier. Always, if you decide to go to another club, you have to decide if the manager and his way of seeing football fits into your way of playing football.
“I knew [Ten Hag] already. I knew his way of seeing the game and his style really fits into how I play. That’s really a big factor. That you work beforehand with him also makes it easier.
“I knew what he expected from me and he knows it from my side as well.”
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