Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, is expected to be fired early in the 2024–2025 season.
Many believe that not enough has changed for the Red Devils from the previous season after Old Trafford’s three-goal losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, draws with a faltering Crystal Palace team and defeats to underdogs FC Twente in the Europa League.
According to one story, a veteran player in United’s locker room is reportedly waiting for Ten Hag to be fired before deciding his future.
Harry Maguire of Manchester United is reportedly waiting for Erik ten Hag to be fired.
Football Insider claims that Harry Maguire, a defender for United and England, is awaiting Ten Hag’s dismissal before deciding on his future after the current campaign.
The 31-year-old’s current Old Trafford deal has an option to be extended for an additional year, which could still be exercised, although it expires after this season.
Maguire has only started three Premier League games this season despite making nine appearances in all competitions.
But one of those was a crucial matchup with Aston Villa, where the manager’s job seemed to be at stake.
Maguire’s influence with the Red Devils has diminished since his £80 million acquisition from Leicester City, despite this.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former United striker and manager, appointed him captain. He was a consistent starter until current manager Ten Hag took away the title in favour of Bruno Fernandes.
According to FourFourTwo, this report suggests that Maguire and Ten Hag’s relationship is far more tense than the United manager’s on-field choices suggest.
The Dutchman looked to Maguire for the final ten minutes of the game after letting a two-goal lead slip against Porto and frantically trying to score. The defender duly returned the favour with an equaliser in stoppage time.
Still reeling from a dismal start to the season and those wild scenes at the Estadio Do Dragao, and facing a difficult test away at Villa that weekend, the manager decided to go for Harry Maguire instead of Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, or any other Ten Hag-flavored additions.
It would seem like a strange decision for the manager to make with his position at Villa Park if Ten Hag’s faith in Maguire were so weak and obvious that the England international actively wanted the head coach to leave the team.
According to FourFourTwo, the defender’s choice will ultimately depend on the position he is willing to play at Old Trafford. Maguire will undoubtedly realise that competition for starts will be intense under any manager after the Red Devils recruited De Ligt and Leny Yoro to an already reasonably good defensive cast.