Erik ten Hag is happy with Harry Maguire and De Gea in his selection, but understands that the captain is not happy with his current role at Manchester United. Ten Hag cannot therefore promise that Maguire will still play his home games at Old Trafford next season.
Ten Hag does not dare to speak out about the future of his frustrated captain
United paid 87 million euros to Leicester City four years ago to sign Maguire. With that transfer fee, the 55-time English international is still the most expensive defender of all time. However, he is not a basic player: Ten Hag has removed Maguire from the team at United this season. The former Leicester city defender has to make do with a role in the bench.
Ten Hag knows this is difficult for Maguire. “But he has competition from Raphael Varane, who is fantastic,” the United manager said in a major interview with The Times. “No one would be happy with this situation and that includes Harry. But he always trains at the top level, with 100 percent effort, so he handles the situation well.”
“In that way and as captain of the team, he is still important to the team,” Ten Hag emphasizes. “Let’s just say I’m glad he’s here and that he did his job when we needed him. But it is also a decision he will have to make.” But does that mean Maguire will still be on United’s payroll next season?
De Gea will not promised of the number one position
Ten Hag also talks about David de Gea, his goalkeeper, in the interview. After the last league game of this season, against Fulham on Sunday, Ten Hag announced that the Spaniard would definitely stay. In conversation with The Times, however, it appears that there is a ‘but’ to it.
“Yes, David will still be at United next season. But I will not say that he will always be my number one,” says Ten Hag. “At a club like Manchester United, there has to be competition in all positions. You can’t do it with eleven players, that’s impossible. Every position must be occupied twice.”
