Erik ten Hag could be ready to experiment with two extra roles for one Manchester United star in the 2024-25 Premier League season, according to stunning reports.
The 54-year-old Dutchman will enter his third season in charge at Old Trafford after he inked a contract extension this summer.
Erik ten Hag was retained by Ineos after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team completed an end-of-season review following Manchester United’s lacklustre campaign.
The Red Devils underwhelmed in the 2023-24 season, with United limping to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League table.
However, Ten Hag ended the campaign on a high note after United defeated Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley in May.
The United boss has seen a shake-up to his coaching staff this summer, with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed as assistant managers to Ten Hag.
Ten Hag kicked off United’s pre-season campaign earlier this month and the Red Devils have now headed to the United States for the final leg of their tour.
Ten Hag’s roles for Man Utd star
Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Norwegian side Rosenborg last Monday before bouncing back with a 2-0 win against Rangers in Scotland last Saturday.
Erik ten Hag has been without several first-team players, who have extended breaks due to representing their countries at the 2024 Copa America and Euro 2024.
According to GiveMeSport, Ten Hag is preparing for the new season and could assign ‘surprise new roles’ for United star Lisandro Martinez.
Lisandro Martinez played under Ten Hag at Ajax and was reunited with the Dutchman after he was brought to Old Trafford in 2022.
The 26-year-old former Ajax star has been a linchpin defensive figure for Ten Hag, but Martinez’s recent season at Old Trafford was curtailed due to injury.
However, Martinez appeared to be back to his best this summer after playing a key role in Argentina’s successful Copa America title defence in the United States.
GiveMeSport reports that United insiders believe that the Argentina international could be deployed as an ‘emergency left-back’ next season.
Ten Hag was short of left-back options for the second half of last season after Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia were sidelined and Sergio Reguilon’s loan spell was ended.
It is believed that Ten Hag could also play Martinez as a midfield ‘enforcer,’ with the United centre-back a potential partner for Kobbie Mainoo.
Casemiro’s future remains uncertain at Old Trafford and Sofyan Amrabat was sent back to Fiorentina after United turned down the chance to sign him permanently.
United are heavily linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte and could bring him to Old Trafford this summer.
Ten Hag on Martinez’s mentality
Ten Hag is a big admirer of Lisandro Martinez and the United manager waxed lyrical about the 2022 World Cup winner’s mentality in training.
Speaking to United legend Rio Ferdinand, Ten Hag told TNT Sports in March: “Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Bruno [Fernandes], and Licha Martinez, when he is on the training pitch, he is always [on the] front foot, always switched on.
“He always wants to win, even in small games.”
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