1 year ago
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ERIK TEN HAG says he axed Harry Maguire as captain to help the Manchester United team.
Maguire was left hurt and angry as Bruno Fernandes replaced him as skipper as Manchester United team captain.
Harry Maguire has been told he can battle his way back to a first-choice spot spot as Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag still believes in his ‘potential’Getty
GettyBut explaining his decision Ten Hag said: “It’s nothing against Harry, it was in advantage of the team. Then you make the decision.”
Now despite starting him in just eight Premier League games last season Ten Hag has challenged the 30-year-old £80million England international to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place.
He said: “I will not say that Harry isn’t part of this group. He has to fight for his position.
“He is a very good centre-back, and I believe in the potential of Harry Maguire. “It’s just that he has to prove himself and fight his way into the team. It’s up to him, and I think he can do it.”
That will be easier said than done, however, with the likes of Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof ahead of him in the pecking order for those centre-back spots.
Even Luke Shaw got preferred ahead of him in back three.
Ten Hag said: “See his competition, It’s tough when you’re competing with Rapha Varane and Victor Lindelof. It’s huge competition. That has nothing to do with the belief.
“I have often chosen a player ahead of Harry, that’s true. But that says nothing about me not believing in him. He has to show he is better for the team than Rapha or Victor. I think that’s a normal situation in top football.
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“When you are at Man United you have to fight for your position and bring your skills in and prove you are the best for the team, and contribute the most.”
Taking the armband off Maguire was not the only big decision Ten Hag made post season as goalkeeper David De Gea was let go after 12 years at Old Trafford with Andre Onana replacing him from Inter Milan at the cost of £47million.
So are these big calls tough to make?
Ten Hag said: “It’s the difference between a manager and a human being. In the end, top football is about getting results and then you have to make decisions, but you have to do it in an honest and transparent way.
“The club appointed me to take such decisions in these moments, but to also communicate those decisions and do it in a straight and honest way. That is what I’m always looking to do. I always try to do it in that way.”
Like Sir Alex Ferguson, Ten Hag can be tough yet understanding as he was with Jadon Sancho last season.
Sancho has struggled to make an impact in the two years since his £73million switch from Borussia Dortmund.
Ten Hag could tell it was all getting to him so gave him time away from the game in January to work on ‘physical and mental’ issues.
Now he is hopeful the Manchester United fans will see the best of the 23-year-old winger this season.
He said: “In this moment he is in a very good vibe. He decides how he is, how his mood and vibe is. I hope and expect.
“He has a lot of energy, we have all seen that from the moment he came back. “He wants to enjoy football and be successful.
“He has the skills so also for him it’s the same. He has to show consistently that he can make a huge contribution.
“When you are a front player that end product is the key. So make sure you are making the key actions, the final pass and get your goals in, because that’s why he is here.”
Ten Hag clearly believes too much was expected of Sancho when he switched from the Bundesliga.
He said: “It’s the development. The Bundesliga is perfect preparation for the Premier League. It’s tougher.
“I saw many games at Dortmund and Jadon is not such a different player in Dortmund as he is here.
“But also for him, he has to get more consistency in his performance but he has to do it at a higher level.”
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