“You have to make the hard decision. We know that he just joined but you have to drop him if you don’t want to lose your job. He definitely was what the club was expecting” – This is according to Gabriel Agbonlahor as he advises Erik ten Hag to make some tough decisions, including dropping a struggling Manchester United player.
Manchester United squandered a two-goal lead against Porto in the Europa League, continuing their underwhelming form this season.
Despite taking an early advantage, the Red Devils failed to hold on, with Porto coming back to lead 3-2. A late goal from Harry Maguire secured a point for United, but questions remain about whether this will be enough to save Erik ten Hag’s job.
United’s struggles in the Premier League have carried over into the Europa League, with the team yet to win a match in the competition this season.
Among the underperformers was new signing Matthijs de Ligt, who has had difficulty settling in since joining from Bayern Munich in the summer.
Football pundit Owen Hargreaves suggested that Ten Hag should consider dropping De Ligt and starting Maguire against Aston Villa this weekend.
“Harry will play at the weekend against Villa. I think he’ll have to,” Hargreaves said on TNT Sports, according to The Mirror.
“De Ligt struggled today. Samu Omorodion, who scored twice for Porto, is an explosive and powerful player, but it won’t get any easier against the likes of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran,” the pundit remarked. “Ten Hag has some big decisions to make.”
Since moving to Manchester United from Bayern Munich in the summer, Matthijs de Ligt has had a disappointing start. Despite previously working with Ten Hag at Ajax, the Netherlands international has appeared slow and struggled to read the game, contributing to United’s defensive issues in critical moments.
De Ligt’s underwhelming performances have raised concerns about United’s defense and midfield, both of which are struggling to show signs of improvement. The team’s playing style has also come under scrutiny, and with Ten Hag under increasing pressure, his position at the club seems uncertain.
The upcoming match against Aston Villa, fresh off a Champions League win over Bayern Munich, could be decisive for United’s season and for Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford.
