Erik ten Hag believes Harry Maguire “is good enough” to play for Manchester United
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes Harry Maguire is good enough to play for the Red Devils. However, the Dutch manager has admitted the 29-year-old needs to showcase his talent at the club.
The centre-back has lost his place in the starting lineup this season under the new gaffer. However, the defender’s performances for England at the 2022 World Cup were impressive.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag acknowledged Maguire’s qualities. However, the Dutch manager feels the 29-year-old has not always been at his best at United.
“I can only back him. I’ve been asked many times if he is good enough [to play for me] and it is clear he is good enough to play at the highest level. And then it is up to him to show that confidence on the pitch and he didn’t show that in all the games [for United].”
The England international signed for the Red Devils in the summer of 2019 from Leicester City after his displays at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. After a few months, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed the defender the captain’s armband at the Old Trafford side.
Unfortunately, since last season, Maguire has been underwhelming at United. The centre-back has made many errors in the backline for the Red Devils, which has left the fanbase frustrated.
At the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Ten Hag opted with the England international and Lisandro Martinez in the backline. However, we lost the first two games of the season.
Since then, Raphael Varane has replaced our captain in the starting XI. The France international has formed a solid partnership with the Argentine centre-back in the defence.
While Maguire has lost his place at the Old Trafford side, Gareth Southgate has kept faith in him. The 29-year-old repaid that trust in Qatar. He was one of England’s best players at the World Cup. But the Three Lions lost to Les Bleus in the quarter-finals.
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But Varane and Martinez have also been great at the prestigious tournament for France and Argentina, respectively. Thus, while the gaffer will evidently hope for the former Leicester star to replicate his England form in Manchester, it remains to be seen whether our captain is up to the task.
