Finally – Erik ten Hag’s blunt response tells Harry Maguire exactly where he stands at Man Utd

Harry Maguire’s tenure at Manchester United may be coming to an end, according to manager Erik ten Hag, who informed the club captain that he must make a decision regarding his future.

While Raphael Varane and summer acquisition Lisandro Martinez are Ten Hag’s favorite pairing, Maguire began the season as the center of United’s defense. When Martinez suffered a season-ending injury, he also favored Luke Shaw as his left-sided center-back, claiming that “the angles are not right” for the England international to start on that side.

Just five Premier League games since the World Cup and eight total this season have seen United’s captain start. Ten Hag has also indicated that while he values Maguire’s leadership and presence, he would understand if Maguire wanted to go in quest of more consistent first-team action.

Just five Premier League games since the World Cup and eight total this season have seen United’s captain start. Ten Hag has also indicated that while he values Maguire’s leadership and presence, he would understand if Maguire wanted to go in quest of more consistent first-team action.

Ten Hag told The Times, “Raphael Varane, who is fantastic, is high competition there.” Varane, a former Real Madrid player, is expected to start in front of Maguire in the FA Cup final after making a comeback from injury around the conclusion of the regular season.

“This situation [not playing] wouldn’t make anyone pleased. He’s struggling, too. He constantly puts up his utmost effort during training.

Because of how skillfully he handled the issue and how he behaved, the team needed him as captain. Let’s say I’m glad he’s here and that he helped out when we needed it, but he also has a choice to make about whether or not to stay.

On the last day of the Premier League season, Maguire received a start for the first time as United overcame a deficit to defeat Fulham. With new defender, Kim Min-Jae thought to be on the way, though, the center-back may take heed of comments from former Red Devils center-back Rio Ferdinand as well as those from the manager.

Ferdinand declared in the middle of May, “I think he needs to [leave].” “He needs to depart in the summer if he wants to revive his career. He cannot remain there and take a backseat. If he actually wants to continue playing for England and get things together.

With starts in both of England’s March international matches and a spot in the team for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, Maguire is still an important part of Gareth Southgate’s ambitions for England at the international level. He also participated in the 2022 World Cup on a regular basis, although Southgate has acknowledged that his club position isn’t ideal.

“We are where we were ahead of the World Cup – and it’s not a perfect scenario,” the England manager stated in March. The criterion is that Harry now has two World Cup champions ahead of him on the (United) team. He handled it quite well in Qatar. Outstanding performances came from him.