Several Manchester United players are urging Erik ten Hag to abandon his footballing style just two games into his reign ahead of Monday’s showdown against Liverpool.
The Dutchman has endured a torrid start to his reign with the fallen Premier League giants now bottom of the league after consecutive defeats against Brighton and Brentford.
Ten Hag arrived with a clear idea of the tactics he wanted to implement, replicating the style that brought him huge success at Ajax.
United, however, have looked ill-equipped to carry out his instructions and with Liverpool on the horizon, several players have urged Ten Hag to take a more pragmatic approach against Klopp’s side.
The FA Cup holders hammered one of the final nails in Solskjaer’s coffin last campaign, romping to a record breaking 5-0 win at Old Trafford and a repeat of that scoreline would set more alarm bells ringing.
According to the MEN, Ten Hag is considering dropping out of sorts skipper Harry Magurie who has been anything but a steadying influence on Lisandro Martinez.
The England international was given the runaround by Brighton a fortnight ago and struggled against Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbuemo last weekend.
Ten Hag indicated during United’s pre-season tour Maguire and Martinez would be his first-choice partnership at central defence.
‘We bring him in to not strengthen the squad, but the team,” Ten Hag said of Martinez. ‘Is Maguire a first-choice? I think he is.
‘He’s proved it in the past but he also has to prove it in the present time and in the future. ‘He has played how many times? Sixty times for England? He is a career that is really impressive and I expect a lot from him.
‘But there is also internal competition and that is what a club like Man United needs.’
Raphael Varane missed the first two matches of the season and played only a limited role during United’s summer tour of the Far East and Australia but is set to make a return at Maguire’s expense.
Whether Ten Hag will have any new signings to call upon, however, remains very unlikely with United no closer to adding the midfielder and forward he craves.
United are ready to close the door on their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong and are now turning their attention to Real Madrid star Casemiro having failed to agree personal terms with Adrien Rabiot.
Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, meanwhile, is interested in a move to Old Trafford on loan as he looks to secure regular first team football ahead of the World Cup, but United are likely to face competition from Atletico Madrid and Newcastle.
