“Display some leadership” – Erik ten Hag calls upon Harry Maguire to take charge following his return to the starting lineup for the Red Devils

What happened

United faced a detrimental loss in Copenhagen on Wednesday, adding to a string of unfavorable outcomes in a faltering season. The team gave up a two-goal advantage after Marcus Rashford’s ejection, leading to concerns about their resilience. Despite the absence of key figures like Casemiro and Luke Shaw, ten Hag remains confident that other players possess the necessary attributes to lift United from their present downturn.

What they said

Asked during Friday’s press conference about the origin of leadership, ten Hag responded, “We have individuals who can take on this role. In these situations, we expect Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay to exhibit leadership. Of course, Bruno as well. We have adequate players with the traits and disposition to step up in such instances and guide the team.”

The bigger picture

Eliminated from the Carabao Cup and facing a struggling Champions League run, United are in dire need of reigniting their Premier League performance. Injuries and lackluster individual form have added to the challenge, leaving ten Hag dependent on previously overlooked players to alleviate uncertainties about his position.