Harry Maguire outlines the changes made by Erik ten Hag in his first season at Manchester United
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‘He wants high standards’: Harry Maguire describes the changes made by Erik ten Hag in his first season at Manchester United as the seldom-used club captain praises the demands set by the Dutchman.
- Harry Maguire praised Erik ten Hag’s work at Manchester United
- The comments come despite his fall in the pecking order of this campaign.
- Ten Hag has rarely used the club captain, favoring other defenders instead.
Harry Maguire outlined the changes Erik ten Hag has made this season, highlighting the cultural change the Dutchman’s arrival has brought.
Despite enduring a rocky start, Ten Hag has overseen a remarkable transformation at United, both on and off the pitch, and the team’s ever-improving performances suggest they are heading in the same direction.
While many players have benefited from the Dutchman’s arrival, one player who has suffered is club captain Maguire, who has seen his appearances fall off a cliff, having played just 10 times in the Premier League this season.
However, ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, in which Maguire could lift the first major silverware of his career, the former Hull City and Leicester defender praised the work done by Ten Hag.
‘His ideas are different from many of the ones we are used to, I must say. He was also an advocate,’ he told TalkSport.
Harry Maguire praised the work done by Erik ten Hag, despite his lack of minutes this term.
The defender highlighted the changes that Ten Hag has made to the training ground in terms of standards.
“This season it has shown that it works and it has worked in the past as well. He has brought a philosophy and ideas about how he wants us to play. It will probably tell you that there are still many improvements that we need to make.
“He is very demanding in everything he does and in everything he says. Whether it’s on training ground or if you’re doing a passing drill early on and you miss a pass, he’s on you immediately and those are the demands he sets. He wants high standards.
Maguire has made just 19 total appearances this season, with the England international seeing his position go to Lisandro Martínez, who has formed a dominant partnership with Raphael Varane.
Maguire has seen his minutes fall off a cliff as a result of Lisandro Martínez (pictured) and Raphael Varane forming a dominant pairing
Despite that, Maguire still spoke of the pride he would feel in lifting the League Cup as United captain.
“It will be an incredible moment for me,” he said. ‘It is a great honor for a captain of this football club. A true privilege.
‘Since I was named captain it has been a dream to lift my first trophy for this football club.
“It’s been a long process, but like I said, we’ve got a long way to go and it’s a great game and I’m not going to think too much about it until the time comes.”