Man United: Spanish players angry over unfair treatment
While several English players have renewed contracts this season, Manchester United's Spanish players De Gea, Mata and Herrerra still have their futures up in the air.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signing a permanent contract to become Manchester United manager a few weeks ago, the club have also been busy renewing the contracts of several players. But so far it has mainly been English members of the squad who have secured new deals at Old Trafford.
Reports in the British press this Sunday claim that Spanish players at the club are angry as they believe they are being treated differently than their team mates. Spanish internationals David de Gea, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata, reportedly feel that the English footballers are being favoured because the club are trying to re-build a squad based on domestic players, as was the case in the Alex Ferguson era.
The press reports also cite other Spanish-speaking players, Chilean Alexis Sánchez and Argentina’s Marcos Rojo, who also feel that English players are being given preferential treatment.
England players Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young have all signed new contracts at Old Trafford this season, while their Spanish team mates are still waiting to see what happens regarding their futures at the club.
At this point it seems almost sure certain that Juan Mata and Herrera will leave the club at the end of the season. Mata has been heavily linked with a move back to Spain with LaLiga champions Barcelona, while compatriot Herrera has reportedly been talking to PSG. It remains to be seen what will happen to goalkeeper De Gea, who has not yet reached an agreement with the board.
Rojo and Sanchez struggling at Old Trafford
Having struggled with form and fitness since arriving from Arsenal in January 2018, Chilean striker Sanchez may be considered expendable as the club looks to rebuild. Rojo is another player who has has injury problems and has only played four Premier League games so far this season.
"As a club we cannot carry players," Solskjaer said in a press conference this Sunday ahead of the club’s trip to Everton. "Everyone has to take ownership, keep improving, show that hunger that you want to get better individually and as a team.
"I'm not just talking about Alexis. Everyone is under the same demands. But if we are talking about Alexis, he hasn't been lucky with injuries. Since I came in, he's had two long-term injuries and that hasn't been beneficial to him. Some other players have had injuries as well.
“But I see the characters we have. I am looking at who we should keep, who we should move on Alexis has got a fantastic talent when he's at his best level. Now we want him performing for us."
Tough run ahead for United
Following their Champions League elimination against Barcelona and humiliating 4-0 defeat against Everton on Sunday, the Red Devils have a tricky pair of games coming up in the Premier League against Manchester City and Chelseaas they look to secure a Champions League top-four spot.
Solskjaer’s men are sitting in sixth place but are just two points off Arsenal (fourth) and Chelsea (fifth) and three points behind third-placed Spurs, as the battle for the last two Champions League spots intensifies with just a handful of games left in the season.
