“Erik ten Hag loves having problems with players he don’t like. He is already doing to him what he did to Sancho and Ronaldo. He might leave the club very soon. Paul Scholes reveals the theory behind Erik ten Hag’s drastic relationship with one Man Utd key player who is not happy at the club.
Paul Scholes has expressed his views on Erik ten Hag’s relationship with a key Manchester United player, sparking further conversation about the club’s current situation. United’s underwhelming start to the Premier League campaign continued with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, which only added to the frustration around Old Trafford. Scholes, a United legend, believes Ten Hag has long had his sights set on replacing Harry Maguire, a player who has faced persistent scrutiny from both fans and pundits.
Maguire’s position at the club has been under question for the last two years, largely due to inconsistent performances and heavy criticism. According to Scholes, Ten Hag has been actively working toward finding a suitable replacement for the England defender. This summer, Ten Hag signed Matthijs de Ligt for £43 million, a move Scholes sees as clear evidence that the Dutch manager was determined to replace Maguire in the squad.
In an appearance on the Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes suggested that Ten Hag had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to swap Maguire for De Ligt. He commented, “He couldn’t wait to get De Ligt in ahead of Maguire; he was just waiting for the chance.”
Despite this, Scholes isn’t entirely convinced that De Ligt represents a significant improvement over Maguire. He admitted, “To be honest, I’m not sure it’s that big of an upgrade. Maybe he’s a bit better, but it’s not the kind of change where you’re blown away.”
Scholes also touched on Ten Hag’s cautious approach when it comes to incorporating new signings into the squad. He cited the example of Manuel Ugarte, who was introduced to the fans during a Liverpool match but then went away on international duty with Uruguay. Scholes explained that, especially with South American players, there’s often limited time between their return from international duty and their next club game, which can make it tricky for them to be integrated into the team quickly.
He elaborated, “Ten Hag seems to be very patient with new arrivals. Take De Ligt, for example. He was benched at Bayern in favor of Eric Dier for no apparent reason. And now, are we not allowed to rotate players anymore?”
Scholes’ remarks sparked reactions from fans, with one commenting, “Scholes was a phenomenal player, but you can just tell he wouldn’t be great as a manager.”
This debate about Maguire’s future and De Ligt’s role in the squad highlights some of the key challenges Ten Hag is facing as he looks to build a team that can compete at the highest level in the Premier League. The question remains whether De Ligt will deliver the performances United need, and whether Maguire’s time at the club is coming to an end under Ten Hag’s leadership.
