Manchester United took revenge on Aston Villa for the Premier League debacle by beating them 4-2 in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday.
It was a tough win, as United had to come from behind on two separate occasions before securing a spot in the fourth round of the competition.
Despite victory secured thanks to superlative displays from Bruno Fernandes and substitute Alejandro Garnacho, United found it difficult to break Villa’s stubborn defence.
donny’s struggles
One player who kept his place in the league mess was Donny van de Beek, but he was unable to make any sort of positive impact during his time on the pitch.
It was so bad that goalkeeper Martin Dubravka ended up having more first-half touches than the former Ajax midfielder.
Erik ten Hag has said there is no loan move for Donny van de Beek, “he either fights and proves himself, or he leaves (sold).”
I love Donny, but this is what it has to be. Prove you’re good enough for Man Utd, or walk away. No favoritism. pic.twitter.com/F8x4mjIg4T
— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) November 11, 2022
And he was rightly substituted after a third successive ineffective display with many contemplating whether he was cut to represent United.
And when posed with the question of whether his compatriot should ideally go out on loan to gain confidence before playing for the Red Devils, Ten Hag said Van De Beek had to prove himself amidst the competition or risk being sold.
“I don’t think a loan [makes] sense. Or else fight [for] and he proves himself, in this environment in this environment, or he leaves”, commented the manager.
Brutal ETH Verdict
The versatile Dutch international has already been linked with a move away from United in the winter transfer window after struggling to make an impact over the course of the season.
However, Ten Hag refused to rule out his former protégé showing his true value. He mentioned that he has already seen glimpses of the midfielder’s talent, suggesting that he could yet succeed at Old Trafford.
“But for me, there is still a path for him, there is still a perspective for him. It will not be easy because the competition there is very strong.
“I’ve seen better in the past. But I think in terms of positioning, he’s doing pretty well. But he has to take that step forward.”
Time is running out for Van De Beek to reassure fans that he belongs in Manchester and that he can recapture the form he showed in Amsterdam, which earned him a move to England.
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