Erik ten Hag, the manager, can blame the increasing number of injuries for the team's poor performance because he is unable to select his strongest starting lineup. The hardest impacted area has been defence, where all starters are out right now. The manager was compelled to start Victor Lindelof at left back against Brentford. Lindelof has failed to maintain the form he had last season despite playing in a variety of places. The Swede was responsible for the goal the Bees scored.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez's absences due to injury during Ten Hag's first season was filled by the former Benfica player. The 29-year-old has once again been afflicted by the same old weaknesses of being too weak against physically strong strikers and being unable to compete in the air.