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‘Not this season’ – Erik ten Hag explains big Harry Maguire positional decision at Man United.
Erik ten Hag has revealed why Harry Maguire will not be moved back into Manchester United’s left-sided centre-half berth.
The England international has been in the role regularly for the Red Devils, with Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane on his right.
Maguire has, however, seen questions asked of his value to the United cause in 2022-23 – leading to him being dropped at one stage – and a return to Ten Hag’s plans has only been made after unfortunate injuries to World Cup winners Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
Maguire is presently being utilized on the right-hand side of United’s defence, which is where he will stay for the predictable future.
Asked by Sky Sports whether club captain Maguire will be moved back to the left, with Lindelof filling that spot in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag said: “Not this season. The angles are not good for Harry if he is playing on the left side, it’s difficult for him also defending in wide areas on his left foot but I think he is more capable on the right. Victor is very good, he can use both feet and I think he also did a brilliant job in the rest of defence and the defensive transitions. That’s why we prefer to do it with them in this way.”
Maguire has figured in just 13 Premier League games for United this season, starting only seven, and has seen a summer move away from Old Trafford speculated on as he seeks to find regular game time at the club level while keeping himself in contention for England call-ups.
United – currently third in the Premier League table – will return to action on Thursday in the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Sevilla, before facing Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.