Ten Hag deserves credit for dropping Maguire and Ronaldo, says De Boer

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Erik ten Hag has made a big impression at Manchester United so far and appears to be very quickly learning on the job.

The Dutchman will have been stunned by what he saw in United’s opening two Premier League matches, with the team falling to two successive defeats.

This makes United’s subsequent form even more impressive, with United rattling off four successive wins.

Former Ajax star Ronald de Boer has told Sky Sports that he has been impressed by De Boer’s bold calls, and willingness to drop big name players.

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Dropping Maguire and Ronaldo key to United revival

De Boer credits Ten Hag’s big calls for Manchester United’s turn around in form, suggesting other managers would not have dared to do so.

He said: “What I like the most is that he has put players on the bench that people thought he wouldn’t dare to do so, like Maguire and of course Ronaldo and he did so.

“I think now you see what Manchester United was about two years ago, when they turned second with great football and that is something to build on.”

United have been better without both stars, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane forming an effective, well balanced defensive partnership.

Leaving Ronaldo out of the team has also ended up as a positive, with Marcus Rashford regaining the form which had deserted him last season.

But most of all, Ten Hag has sent a message out to supporters and the players, that nobody is undroppable, and he is the boss.

With the captain and highest paid player both left out for four successive matches, Ten Hag has shown there will be a reset, on his terms.

Eric Bailly’s comments this week showed that United players felt selection policy wasn’t fair under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. Ten Hag has shown it is wide open.

De Boer also added that he backs Ten Hag to give opportunities to Manchester United’s youth players, several of who have been training with the first team over the past couple of months.

He added: “They have some young great talents and Ten Hag is used to putting in players who perform well in training. Even if you are young it doesn’t matter, and that says something about the manager.”