Erik: We have competition at centre-back
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will have a selection decision to make at centre-back before the Reds host Luton Town in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Jonny Evans, who started five of United’s last six games in the competition, has been ruled out of the 15:00 GMT kick-off at Old Trafford with an injury he sustained during our midweek defeat in the UEFA Champions League.
Raphael Varane came on to replace the Northern Ireland international on Wednesday and could be selected alongside Harry Maguire, who has completed our last four league games.
The connection formed between Evans and Maguire in recent weeks has meant Premier League opportunities are yet to be as forthcoming as they were for Varane last season, who was a regular in the XI when available during Erik's debut term of 2022/23.
“Last year, Harry didn’t play a lot. So, I was very happy with Rapha’s performance, and I have always been happy with his performance.
“But, in this moment, Harry is playing very good. There is internal competition.”
Our no.5 has been in good form during his recent run at the heart of our backline, something which Ten Hag expects from the England international.
“Harry Maguire is doing very well in this moment and I’m very happy with that,” he stated.
“As I always said with Harry Maguire, he can do the job and now he is showing he is doing the job.
“Rapha Varane, I always played him, all the games when he was available, I played him because he was doing that well.”
Part two: Press conference v Luton
Press conference part two | Erik discusses his defensive options and home form, ahead of our clash with Luton...
At the end of the press conference, Ten Hag provided further clarity towards what goes into his tactical thinking when selecting his centre-back partnership for the Reds.
The recent prolonged injury absence to both of United’s left-footed players who can play on that side of the partnership – Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw – has had to be a factor in consideration.
“Ideally [either Maguire or Varane would play on the right side].
“But there are moments in games or in certain games they can play together, and they have already proved they can do it. But the build-up is not that fluid when one of them is playing from the left centre-half position.
“Licha [Martinez] obviously, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof are right footed, but they can play really comfortably from the left and they can make the right angles. Then you can construct a better formation where you can start to play.”