Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has stated that both Cristiano Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire remain part of his first-team plans.
The pair were benched for the 2-1 win over Liverpool on Monday night but, when asked whether either player had a future at Old Trafford, ten Hag replied:
“I don’t have to mention Harry Maguire and Ronaldo, they are amazing players, and they will play a role in the future and the short future as well.”
It’s fair to say that many United supporters on Twitter are not taking ten Hag at his word, especially after how well the team played without the presence of Ronaldo or Maguire in the starting eleven:
Means they're outπ
— π§ππ (@v1ncnz) August 22, 2022
Basically confirmation that these two are gonna be rotation players
— Macnificent (@Macnificentt_) August 23, 2022
Maguire will play a role at Chelsea
— Dylan (@Dylan01Jakins) August 22, 2022
Even then itβs dicey
— Arrpucks (@arrpucks) August 22, 2022
The bench really suits Maguire
— EYT (@theonlyeugene) August 22, 2022
No future ahead for Maguire please
— Dr. LarryUnited (@LarryunitedD) August 22, 2022
Harry will play a role in transferring out
— Reza (@yanitedprop) August 22, 2022
Which role? Let them hold the bench my friend
— centriver π΅ (@SamuelGodwin_) August 22, 2022
Ironically, Chelsea have been mentioned as potential suitors for Maguire and Ronaldo in recent weeks but, as things stand, there is no real possibility of either player leaving.
Ten Hag still has a big decision to make on both players. Maguire could be used as a rotation option when Raphael Varane or Lisandro Martinez are not available, but Ronaldo would be far from happy playing a similar role.