Erik ten Hag refuses to give up on Donny van de Beek, insisting he will come good for Manchester United.
Van de Beek was anonymous in United’s Europa League win over Real Sociedad, despite Ten Hag shifting skipper Bruno Fernandes to play him in the No 10 role. It was the Dutch midfielder’s first start at United under Ten Hag and he was hooked before the hour mark.
Van de Beek has been a £40million flop since his move from Ajax just over two years ago and he has managed just two goals and one assist in his 55 appearances.
He was one of Europe’s most coveted midfielders under Ten Hag at Ajax when he helped them reach the 2019 Champions League semi-finals and the United boss says he still believes in him.
“I can only talk about my time here and in my time here, he is performing well in the game time we have given him,” said Ten Hag. “I know he can do better because I know him very well, but he delivered what I expected on Thursday in terms of positioning and also pressing, in terms of transition.
"I think he can do more and his biggest quality is that he can be more of a threat to the opponents’ goal.”
United shunted him out on loan to Everton for the second half of last season in a sign of their doubts and Ten Hag admits there will come a time when he has to make a decision on his future.
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The Dutchman insists that moment is not now and defended van de Beek, claiming he was doing well before a muscle injury in September sidelined him for several weeks.
“Yes, there will come a time, but that can’t be now because he had quite a good pre-season,” he said. “He got injured, now he’s back. Last week he came and I think he played very well, 50 minutes, and I think this game [Real Sociedad] was a decent performance.”
Van de Beek, 25, spoke to the club’s media before the Sociedad game and insists he can succeed in the No 10 position now he is finally fit again. “It’s how I can maybe help the team, playing in between the lines and making my runs with the ball, giving some passes,” he said.
“To be injured is the most difficult thing for a player. You want to be on the pitch, around the guys and, yeah, it’s hard if you’re injured. I’m happy to be back and I have to stay fit for a longer time.”
Harry Maguire made his eighth United appearance of the season off the bench as a striker as Ten Hag’s tactics against Sociedad became bizarre and he risks being undercooked for the World Cup. He is likely to be on the bench again against Aston Villa on Sunday and Ten Hag claims United are his priority rather than England.
“We have to win as Manchester United, clear,” he said. “I hope that we perform well and that the England manager takes as many players as possible from Manchester United, clear.”
