Erik Ten Hag could axe huge name in United lineup as new report emerge- The Athletic
A renowned football outlet has issued a severe warning to the entire squad, claiming that ‘nobody is safe at Manchester United,’ including the Red Devils’ player of the year.
As Manchester United prepare to begin pre-season training and add new players to the squad, goalkeeper David de Gea’s position has been called into question in an article published by The Athletic.
Erik ten Hag, the club’s new head coach, has already launched a much-needed rebuilding project at the 13-time Premier League champions.
And it calls into question if de Gea fits in with his alleged style of play, despite former United manager Ralf Rangnick hailing him as “one of the best goalkeepers in the world — if not the best.”
And it will be critical that his goalkeeper is not just comfortable with the ball but also capable of initiating moves from the back.
The Athletic goes on to say “the ultimate aim is to create patterns with the ball and provide more tools for his team to start any move on the front foot.
At the same time, Ten Hag is open to players being creative and adopting a less obvious approach, such as driving up the pitch to break the lines or playing a long pass to upset the opponent’s defensive set-up.”
In 2021/22, De Gea was named United Players’ Player of the Season for the second time.
And a simple look at his numbers confirms his value to the squad, since he was one of the top three shot stoppers last season.
While he has many other evident game traits, it is widely agreed that distribution and assault initiating are not among them.
Despite appearing nearly 500 times for United and gaining 45 caps for Spain, the 31-year-old is no longer being selected for his country, owing to uncertainty about his willingness to be proactive in possession.
It has to be seen whether he can persuade Ten Hag and his new coaching staff in pre-season, or whether a deeper look at current United number two Dean Henderson is necessary, given the Englishman’s high level of interest from rival teams.
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Erik Ten Hag could axe huge name in United lineup as new report emerge- The Athletic
