Man United’s Ten Hag: Varane not playing due to Maguire form

Erik ten Hag insisted there were no problems in his relationship with Raphaël Varane and said the Frenchman’s lack of playing time was down to Harry Maguire’s good form.

Varane was first choice at the center of defense last season but has been named on the bench for three of Manchester United’s last four games, including the 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City.

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But when asked if there was a problem with the former France international, Ten Hag replied: “Absolutely not. As I said, it was for tactical reasons that I chose these partnerships. I think Harry [Maguire] and Johnny [Evans] did well.

“Last year Harry didn’t play much, so I was very happy with Rapha’s performance. I was always happy with his performance. But right now Harry is playing very well and there is competition internal.”

Evans will miss the Premier League match against Luton Town at Old Trafford due to injury, leaving Ten Hag to choose between Varane, Maguire and Victor Lindelöf.

Varane and Maguire played together for most of Wednesday’s 4-3 defeat to FC Copenhagen after Evans was replaced, but Ten Hag suggested they were not the best defensive partners.

“There are moments in some games where they can play together and they have already proven that they can do that,” the United boss said.

“But the preparation is not so smooth when one of them plays from the left center back position because I think Licha [Lisandro Martínez]obviously, Luke Shaw, obviously, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, they’re right-footed, but they can play very comfortably with their left and make the right angles, then you can build a better formation where you can start playing.

United recorded more clean sheets in the Premier League than any other team last season, but have struggled defensively since the start of the new campaign.

Ten Hag’s side have conceded 30 goals in 17 games and 10 in their last four matches. The Dutchman says a long injury list has not helped, but admits his available players should perform better.

“Anytime you have to swap your back four, it’s tough,” Ten Hag said.

“We welcomed a new goalkeeper and every time you train a new defender and they know the rules and the principles, but the routines are not the same.

“Communication is very important, but these are just split-second decisions. You need that cooperation and you need it 100%, because when it doesn’t work you concede goals at that level .

“So far I think we have almost never been able to play the starting XI I wanted. But that is never an excuse. We want to win games and we have good players in the team and They can all do the job.”