Andy Cole says Harry Maguire now has to prove he deserves to stay as captain

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag announced this week that Harry Maguire will stay as captain.

Maguire missed the win against Liverpool on Tuesday with a knock, with Bruno Fernandes deputising as skipper in the first half.

Speaking before the game to MUTV, former United striker Andy Cole said he welcomed Ten Hag ended the uncertainty.

Cole added that now it is up to Harry Maguire to prove Ten Hag made the right call by entrusting him with the captaincy.

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Harry Maguire now has to prove he deserves it

Cole said: “It’s massive news. I think the manager coming out and saying Harry is captain, puts a lot to bed.

“It’s all on Harry now. Players will be judged on their performances. There’s quite a few of them. It’s all about what you do on the football pitch. Fingers crossed Harry has a good start to the season.”

Ten Hag will have assessed whether removing the captaincy would have been detrimental to Maguire, and he will have also looked at other candidates.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s pre-season no-show takes him out of the running, while giving the armband to a goalkeeper, David de Gea, is always a divisive move, as it is widely regarded the captain should be an outfield player.

The big question over the captaincy comes if United sign Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, a top target for the club currently.

This will increase competition for places in central defence, and Maguire may not be an automatic pick. He will have to prove he deserves to be in the side.

If he doesn’t, then Ten Hag won’t be afraid to drop him. He axed Sebastien Haller and Andre Onana for the KNVB Cup final in April at Ajax, his first choice striker and goalkeeper.

Strong performances from Harry Maguire will keep him in the team, and rally fans behind him. As Cole observes, a good start to the season is essential.