Paul Scholes recently shared his thoughts on the dynamic between Erik ten Hag and Harry Maguire, in light of Manchester United’s ongoing struggles this season. After United’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace, Scholes suggested that Ten Hag had long intended to replace Maguire with Matthijs de Ligt, following years of the English defender facing criticism from both fans and pundits.
Maguire’s future at Manchester United has been in question for some time, with frequent speculation surrounding his position due to inconsistent performances. Scholes hinted that Ten Hag, United’s current manager, had been keen on bringing in a more solid defensive option to replace Maguire. This became evident when De Ligt was signed for £43 million this summer, and Scholes believes that Ten Hag had always planned to phase Maguire out of the first team in favor of De Ligt.
In a discussion during the Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes remarked that Ten Hag “couldn’t wait to put De Ligt in ahead of Maguire” and had been waiting for the right opportunity to make the switch. The former United midfielder went on to emphasize that Ten Hag was likely just biding his time before introducing De Ligt as a regular starter.
However, despite the big-money transfer and the change in personnel, Scholes expressed his reservations about whether De Ligt truly represents a significant upgrade over Maguire. While he conceded that De Ligt may be slightly better, Scholes was not fully convinced that the Dutch defender would bring about a major transformation in United’s defensive performances. “I’m not convinced it’s a massive upgrade,” Scholes commented, implying that the difference between Maguire and De Ligt might not be as drastic as some may expect.
Scholes also touched on Ten Hag’s overall strategy when it comes to integrating new players into the squad. He pointed out that the manager tends to be cautious, using the example of Manuel Ugarte, another recent signing, who was brought on during United’s match against Liverpool before departing for international duty with Uruguay. Scholes explained that it’s common for South American players to return from international fixtures just before key matches and immediately be expected to perform, yet Ten Hag appears to prefer a more measured approach.
Reflecting on De Ligt’s time at Bayern Munich before his move to United, Scholes noted that the Dutchman was often on the bench behind Eric Dier, highlighting Ten Hag’s tendency to take his time with new signings. This approach, according to Scholes, raises questions about how Ten Hag plans to handle player rotations moving forward, especially with high-profile signings like De Ligt now in the squad.
Scholes’ comments generated some humorous reactions, with one fan joking that, while Scholes was an outstanding player, his insights might not translate well into management, playfully suggesting, “Scholes was a brilliant player, but you just know he’d be a terrible manager.” Despite the lighthearted response, Scholes’ remarks offer an intriguing glimpse into the complexities of Ten Hag’s decision-making and the challenges facing Manchester United this season.