Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has bluntly told Harry Maguire if he lacks the confidence to regain his place then he should leave. United accepted a £30million offer for Maguire from West Ham United last week but the England international is set to be available for selection in their opening Premier League fixture against Wolves on Monday night. Maguire was stripped of the captaincy last month, having been dropped from the first XI last August, and the 30-year-old was loudly booed by fans after his error led to Athletic Bilbao’s goal in United’s final pre-season friendly in Dublin a week ago.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are Ten Hag’s first-choice partnership and the Dutchman started Victor Lindelof ahead of Maguire in United’s run-in last season. United intend to recruit a centre-back if Maguire is sold.
Erik ten Hag said: “For Harry, he has to fight for his place. He has the ability to be a top-class centre-back, he is the best for England so why shouldn’t he be the best for us? But he has to prove it. When he is not confident enough to go with that fight then he has to go, he has to make the decision. But I am happy with him. We don’t have a squad with 11 players. Last year proved definitely we need all the players, so you need high-level players who are maybe not starting but that can change, so there is an internal competition and everyone has to fight for his place. For many players that counts, when they are good they will get their games but no one can play all the games and finally, you find out what is the best team. In the squad now, all the positions are double and every player has the perspective to fight for his place. Then you have to show with your contribution it’s the best team performance. It is up to the players if they have the game time or less.”
Maguire joined United from Leicester in 2019 for £80million – still a world-record fee for a defender – and he has played 175 times for the club. Maguire is contracted to United until 2025.
