Erik ten Hag loves having problems with players he don’t like. He is already doing to him what he did to Sancho and Ronaldo. He might leave the club very soon. Paul Scholes reveals the theory behind Erik ten Hag’s drastic relationship with one Man Utd key player who is not happy at the club.

Paul Scholes has expressed his views on Erik ten Hag’s dynamic with a particular Manchester United player.
United’s lackluster start to the Premier League season continued with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday. After the match, Scholes, a club legend, pointed out that Ten Hag seems eager to replace Harry Maguire with Matthijs de Ligt.

Maguire’s position at United has been in doubt for the last two years, often facing criticism from fans and analysts. His difficulties prompted Ten Hag to sign De Ligt for £43 million this summer, and Scholes believes that De Ligt’s quick inclusion in the starting lineup reflects Ten Hag’s long-term goal of replacing Maguire.

On the *Overlap Fan Debate*, Scholes remarked that Ten Hag “couldn’t wait to get De Ligt in ahead of Maguire; he was just waiting for the chance.”

However, Scholes is not entirely convinced that De Ligt represents a major improvement over Maguire. He stated, “Honestly, I’m not sure it’s that much of an improvement. He might be slightly better, but not to the extent where you think, ‘Wow.’”

Scholes also pointed out Ten Hag’s cautious approach when it comes to integrating new players. He mentioned that “Manuel Ugarte was introduced to the fans during the Liverpool game, but then he went away with Uruguay. With South American players, sometimes they don’t return until a Friday, and then they’re expected to play a Saturday lunchtime game.”

He added, “Ten Hag seems to take his time with new players, like De Ligt being benched at Bayern behind Eric Dier for no clear reason, and now this? So, are we not allowed to rotate anymore?”

This prompted a fan response, with one stating, “Scholes was an incredible player, but you just know he’d make an awful manager.”
Paul Scholes’ comments about Erik ten Hag and Harry Maguire reflect the ongoing tension surrounding Maguire’s position at Manchester United. Scholes suggested that Ten Hag has been keen to replace Maguire with new signing Matthijs de Ligt, emphasizing that the Dutch manager was “just waiting for the chance” to integrate De Ligt into the squad following his £43 million arrival. However, Scholes questioned whether De Ligt is a significant upgrade over Maguire, suggesting that while De Ligt may be marginally better, the improvement isn’t substantial enough to warrant such excitement.

Scholes also touched on Ten Hag’s cautious approach to new players, pointing to examples like Manuel Ugarte and De Ligt, who have experienced delayed integration into the starting XI. Scholes’ concerns seemed to resonate with some fans, but others pushed back, arguing that while Scholes was an excellent player, his managerial insights may not always translate effectively into the modern game.