Erik ten Hag defends 'example' Harry Maguire after calamitous Sevilla defeat

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Erik ten Hag defends 'example' Harry Maguire after calamitous Sevilla defeat

Erik ten Hag says Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is an example for the rest of the squad to follow.

Injuries to starting defensive pair Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have helped the England international get some more game time at club level.

However, he was poor alongside the rest of the team in United's Europa League exit to Sevilla on Thursday and won't be involved in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton on Sunday due to suspension.

"He has an important role in the fact he is captain. He leads, he communicates with the manager. He motivates the team. He is the example on the training pitch and always [has] good sessions," Ten Hag said.

When asked if some of his squad members were playing for their futures, Ten Hag responded: "Yeah but I think we are always playing for our futures, as professional players.

"Every game is a test, every season is a test and you have to earn the right to wear the shirt. But also for me as a manager. In that matter, we are in the same boat, but I think we make huge progress.

"We have the experience now but we have still a way to go. So we have to step up and the good thing is Sunday is the next opportunity. It is a great opportunity, it is the semi-final of the FA Cup. [There is not a] better event you can imagine, so take that and then after it, [there's] still a lot of great games to go and we have to prove it and this group of players has to prove it."

Maguire has been regularly criticised at Old Trafford since his move from Leicester in 2019 and 90min understands he is one player the club are ready to move on during the summer.

The 30-year-old defender has attracted interest from other Premier League sides as well as Serie A teams Juventus, AC Milan and Inter. Maguire would be open to a move across Europe, while United would eye a replacement like Ajax's Jurrien Timber or Portuguese pair Goncalo Inacio and Antonio Silva.