Erik ten Hag sends message to Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire after benching them in win over Liverpool
Posted by  badge Boss on Aug 23, 2022 - 10:31PM
Harry Maguire was left on the bench throughout Manchester United’s win (Picture: Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag insists that both and Harry Maguire will have big roles to play at , after they were left out of the starting line-up in the impressive win over Liverpool.

Anthony Elanga replaced Ronaldo in the front three, while came in for Maguire at centre-back, both proving to be very good decisions.

The Red Devils were vastly improved from their first two games of the season, looking a different side to the one that lost 4-0 to Brentford in their last outing.

and Marcus Rashford scored the goals in a high-energy performance which secured a memorable 2-1 win over the Reds.

Ronaldo came on in the second half, while Maguire remained on the bench for 90 minutes, but Ten Hag insists he was simply rotating his squad and both will be involved again soon.

‘I have decisions to make,’ Ten Hag told Sky Sports. ‘I have a squad and we have to use the squad. We play 50-60 games, from game-to-game we will see what team we will pick.

‘I don’t have to mention Harry Maguire and Ronaldo, they are amazing players, and they will play a role in the future and the short future as well.’

Cristiano Ronaldo came on in the second half at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty Images)

Ten Hag had explained his selections before the match, firstly saying that Ronaldo was not the right choice to play the intense pressing game he was looking for.

‘We know Liverpool are a really good team and you need to press them,’ said the Dutchman pre-match. ‘You have to do that out of a block and need energy, that is why we went with Rashford, Sancho, Elanga.’

On his defence, he added: ‘Varane is a very experienced player, won everything and will bring the communication in the back four.

‘We want mobility and agility in the back four.’

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