Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has criticized Erik ten Hag for his treatment of club captain Harry Maguire.
Ferdinand took issue with Ten Hag’s repeated selection of Luke Shaw at centre-back instead of Maguire.
Maguire has endured a difficult campaign at Old Trafford. He lost his place in the team, and the United coach preferred a partnership between Lisandro Martínez and Raphael Varane.
Maguire’s brilliant World Cup performances have not been enough to ensure restoration of his starting status in Ten Hag’s eyes.
It became clear that the United captain had slipped down the pecking order after Ten Hag opted for Shaw alongside Varane in matches against Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel via The Mirror, Ferdinand said he would be offended if he found himself in Maguire’s shoes.
The six-time Premier League winner commented: “If you’re him, you have to go now. Luke Shaw is playing center back instead of him. That’s like me coming back after the World Cup, playing well, everyone saying ‘he did very well’, and [then] Patrice Evra plays center back”.
I would like to strangle Patrice! I would have squashed Patrice in training to make sure she’s unavailable, and I’d go to the manager and say, ‘Are you giving me the c***, boss?’
“I would have walked right into the manager’s office and said, ‘You’re disrespecting me. Harry Maguire has to move. I think he stays for the games and they can’t put anyone else in. He plays in the cup matches”.
True to Ferdinand’s words, Maguire has apparently been relegated to playing cup games.
He was in action last night as the Red Devils overcame Charlton Athletic to advance to the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
The 29-year-old was recently linked with a transfer to Aston Villa, with him and his agent even pictured at a hotel near Villa’s training ground.
However, these links have been annulled and the defender will stay at Old Trafford at least until the end of the season.
