Erik Ten Drops Hint On His First-Choice Defensive Pairing After Martinez Transfer

• Erik Ten Drops Hint On His First-Choice Defensive Pairing After Martinez Transfer.

• Erik Ten may have his preferred Man Utd centre-back duo in mind ahead of the new season.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has hinted that Harry Maguire could start alongside new signing Lisandro Martinez in his first-choice defence this season.

Martinez’s £47million arrival has threatened Maguire and Raphael Varane’s statuses as certain starters when fit, but the latter could be more at risk.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recruited Varane last summer to partner Maguire in the heart of his defence. But the Frenchman’s first season in England was plagued by injuries and led to Victor Lindelof maintaining his starting berth as United slumped to their worst defensive record in Premier League history.

Erik Ten has seemingly reacted to Varane’s injury proneness by reuniting with Ajax’s 2021/22 Player of the Season at Old Trafford to partner Maguire. And when speaking to the media ahead of United’s third pre-season game, which Varane is likely to be absent for again, he confirmed that he views his captain as a first-choice defender.

He said: “We have good centre-halves, and Harry is one of them. He can play on the left side and on the right. I think he is [a first-choice player]. 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 46 times for England. Harry is really impressive, and I expect a lot from him.”

Despite his plans for his first-choice pairing, Erik Ten Hag has stressed he will have to use the entirety of his squad throughout a hectic schedule. United have Europa League football to also focus on, while the winter World Cup is bound to intensify the need for rest and rotation in the second half of the season.

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He added: “But there is also internal competition, and that is what a club like Man United needs. You cannot win with 11 players. We need a squad, especially this season with so many games. We have the Europa League, the Premier League and the World Cup, so we need a full squad with high-quality players.”

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