Erik ten Hag expresses his satisfaction with Harry Maguire remaining at Manchester United and emphasizes that the defender now needs to compete for his spot in the team.
Maguire, who had eight Premier League starts last season, was initially poised to transfer to West Ham for £30 million, but the move fell through.
The 30-year-old English defender seeks regular playing time once again, and Dutch manager Ten Hag advises him to seize the opportunity when it arises.
“[Maguire] understands my expectations for a center half. He has the capabilities for it,” Ten Hag remarks.
“He possesses the skills required, so it’s on him to demonstrate it. It’s about his character, being confident to play that role. He has all the necessary attributes, and it’s up to him when the moment arrives.”
Having encountered difficulty securing consistent games last season, Maguire lost the club captaincy in July, a role he held since January 2020.
He remained on the bench as an unused substitute during United’s opening Premier League victory against Wolves on Monday. When Ten Hag substituted central defender Lisandro Martinez at halftime, Victor Lindelof took his place.
Although an agreement had been reached between United and West Ham, a source close to Maguire indicated that while he “holds West Ham and David Moyes in high regard,” there was never a “previously agreed-upon arrangement” concerning personal terms.
Regarding the proposed transfer, Ten Hag states, “I’m not certain about the specifics of that process.”
“Harry remains a part of our team, and I’m pleased he’s here; we require a strong squad,” Ten Hag asserts.
“We boast four capable center-halves, and including Luke Shaw, we have five. Given that we’ll be competing in 50-60 matches this season and all our players are internationals, the workload is significant. Consequently, I’m genuinely pleased that Harry Maguire is with us.
“He must vie for his position, as is the case for everyone in our squad.”
Ten Hag believes that his team is “well-covered” across all positions, but the club hasn’t ruled out further signings before the transfer window closes on September 1.
He explains, “We are Manchester United, and we’re always in pursuit of improvement. When an opportunity arises, we’ll capitalize on it, even within the last two weeks.”
