Midfielder Donny van de Beek has refused to accept that his Manchester United career will automatically be resurrected just because he has been reunited with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Van de Beek made the admission after stepping off the bench to grab an assist in United's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. The Netherlands internal teed up Marcus Rashford for United's second goal, with the latter finishing off a fine team move.
Van de Beek stepped off the bench at half-time against Palace, replacing Scott McTominay. It was the third game in succession that he had stepped off the bench at the half-time interval, but on this occasion he was the only introduction, with Ten Hag refusing to make wholesale changes at the break.
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His second-half showing against Palace was his best of pre-season so far, offering encouragement that he is starting to adapt to the way that Ten Hag wants United to play. Considering Ten Hag worked with Van de Beek at Ajax, everyone expected the latter to become an immediate starter in the 52-year-old's plans at Old Trafford.
However, he has so far been forced to play a patient game, much to the surprise of many. However, Van de Beek has admitted that just because Ten Hag has been reunited with him and knows all about his qualities, it does not mean he will be a guaranteed fixture in his plans.
"Of course everyone was saying that because I worked with him at Ajax, but, in the end, you have to play good from yourself and it doesn't make any sense who is the coach," Van de Beek said to reporters after the Crystal Palace game. "You have to find your role in the team and, of course, he knows me as a player, but that means nothing.
"I have to show it for myself."
Van de Beek has struggled to make an impact in England since joining United almost two years ago, making just 50 competitive appearances for the club. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton and failed to have the impact that he would have hoped for.
Despite that, he has vowed to continue playing in the way he always has, refusing to change his style that may help him adapt to the English way of playing.
Van de Beek added: "I will never change as a player. You can improve things, but you never have to change and I will not do that.
"Every player has his qualities, me as well, and that's it."
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