Anthony's accusations plunged Manchester United and Ten Hag into a new crisis after Greenwood left

Anthony is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Photo: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barrat

Manchester United returned to the Champions League, won their first trophy in six years and reached yet another final during an encouraging first year under Erik ten Hag, who also tackled a whole series with skill and determination other problems after having inherited a toxic mess.

That's how it should have been. provided the platform to really jump into action, but Ten Hag's second season has already been engulfed in a torrent of problems as United lurch from one drama and crisis to another.

With the arrival of new player Sofyan Amrabat in team and Rasmus Høylund are now in business, Ten Hag has some new options, but Telegraph Sport is looking at the challenges the manager has to deal with trying to get United back on track after the international break.

Another flurry of accusations at home violence.

As if the Mason Greenwood controversy hadn't done enough harm, United are now caught up in a new flurry of domestic violence allegations involving another striker, Anthony.

Just a few days after that, Greenwood moved to Getafe on on loan after United showed him the door. It appears that Anthony is being investigated by the Greater Manchester Police, as well as the São Paulo Civil Police, for allegations that he assaulted an ex-girlfriend.

Anthony (right), pictured during last season's Europa League match, is under investigation by the Greater Manchester Police. Credit: Reuters/Phil Noble On Monday, Anthony released a statement on Instagram in which he said his relationship with Gabriela Cavallin was «turbulent, with verbal abuse on both sides» but vehemently denied «any physical aggression» and expressed hope that «the ongoing police investigation will reveal the truth.» about my innocence.»

On Monday night, Brazil ruled out Antoni from their team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru following new allegations by Cavallin published on Brazil's UOL website. This was followed on Tuesday by a growing number of calls from domestic violence charities denouncing United for not taking the assault allegations seriously by continuing to play striker and demanding that United suspend him pending a police investigation.

It remains to be seen how Ten Hag will handle the Antony situation going forward. The Brazilian striker has so far struggled to justify the £85million fee United paid Ajax for his services last summer and the 23-year-old's attention is likely to only grow given the publicity surrounding the cops. investigations.

< p>Greenwood, 21, was suspended by United after being arrested last January. Thirteen months later, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that the charges of attempted rape, assault inflicting bodily harm, and control and coercion against Greenwood were dropped after key witnesses pleaded no involvement and new evidence emerged.

< p>United planned to bring the striker back into the squad following an internal investigation, but a fierce public and internal backlash forced him to rethink, and on Friday he joined Spanish club Getafe on a season-long loan.

Ten Hag was keen to use Greenwood in this season, but his departure has left United with no quality options as a centre-forward.

Sancho is the bomb

After a second defeat in four Premier League games and another miserable away record For the team out of the top 10, the last thing Ten Hag needs after Sunday's 3-1 loss to Arsenal is for a player to come out and publicly challenge his authority.

pic.twitter.com/1TGqXaPXOc

— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10), September 3, 2023

However, Jadon Sancho's attack on Ten Hag on social media was yet another surprise and headache for the coach. Cristiano Ronaldo left days after he publicly chided Ten Hag in an unsanctioned interview last November, and Sancho now faces an uncertain future after actually accusing his manager of lying about the reasons for his absence from the match with Arsenal, and made him a scapegoat.

Ten Hag and his team were stunned by Sancho's actions, given how far they had gone in trying to revive a languishing career as a player.

Injury buildup< p>The injury crisis only exacerbated United's problems. In the match against Arsenal, Ten Hag was left without defenders Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malasia, as well as midfielders Mason Mount and Cobby Maina. Shaw is expected to be out until November and Malasia is unlikely to return much earlier, forcing United to sign Sergio Reguilon as a substitute left-back on deadline day.

Lisandro Martinez was injured during the defeat against Arsenal, but was able to go with Argentina. Photo: Getty Images/Glyn Kirk

Mount — a £55m summer signing from Chelsea — may not return until early next month, Maine may return a little later and Varane will be in a race to play again this month. The sight of Lisandro Martinez, substituted against Arsenal, suffering discomfort in the same right leg in which he suffered a metatarsal fracture that forced him out of the last seven weeks of last season, has raised some concern. Martinez's condition should be assessed by Argentina's medical staff ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, but the fact that the defender has been allowed to travel to Buenos Aires is taken as a positive sign.

Ten Hag will also follow Cameroon's game with interest against Burundi next Tuesday. André Onana's decision to withdraw from the international team means United could be without their new main goalkeeper for four to eight matches in January and February if Cameroon beats Burundi to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Poor results and uneven play< p>Defeats against Tottenham and Arsenal raised questions about the team's mentality in big away matches and Ten Hag didn't want to start the campaign the way he wanted.

United's performance in north London this season has been particularly disappointing. Photo: Getty Images/Robin Jones

Denmark striker Højlund looked sprightly in a 23-minute off-the-bench debut against Arsenal and should prove to be a big improvement over the gaudy Anthony Martial, while the talented Amrabat, on loan on deadline day from Fiorentina, is likely to offer more control. physical strength and mobility in a midfield that has remained too open.

United's two wins so far have been inconclusive: a 1-0 win over Wolves and then a 2-0 comeback through four minutes and a victory over Nottingham Forest.

Brighton in good shape Roberto De Zerbi, who was the last team. United's domestic winners 13 months ago will be next at Old Trafford before Ten Hag's side travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich and Harry Kane.

Glacer fears no sale< p>There are some things that are completely out of Ten Hag's control, but continued insecurity over the club's ownership has done little to quell concerns about their direction and fuel resentment and anger among fans, who staged an hour-long «sit-in» to protest the Glazers after match with Forest.

United fans protested against the club's owners during the recent match against Nottingham Forest Credit : Getty Images/Stu Forster

Ten months after United's outraged owners announced a «strategic review» in which they teased the possibility of a full sale, bidders, fans, staff and Ten Hag are still waiting for the infamous uncommunicative Glaser . to explain the next step. Reports that emerged over the weekend suggested that the Americans intended to keep United for now after bids fell short, with a view to further sale.

Even those in charge of the sale process, everyone is still awaiting guidance on what happens next, but without significant capital investment, plans to renovate Old Trafford and the club's training ground in Carrington will remain in limbo.