Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has inadvertently sparked speculation over how he feels about Harry Maguire with his latest comments on Raphael Varane.
Club captain Maguire started the season as part of Ten Hag's preferred starting line-up but two defeats from the opening two games against Brighton and Brentford respectively meant the former Leicester City man was swiftly taken out of the firing line. He has not enjoyed a league start since that disastrous display against the Bees in early August.
There were also question marks over summer signing Lisandro Martinez when he was paired with Maguire, but since being deployed alongside Varane the Argentine has looked like a player transformed. Ten Hag appeared to suggest as much during his most recent round of media duties.
In the aftermath of United's 2-0 Europa League away win over Sheriff Tiraspol, Ten Hag waxed lyrical over the French defender who was handed another start over Maguire.
"The reason (for another clean sheet) is we were good in possession and we defended very well," The United boss told MUTV. "With Rapha Varane there as the leader, he puts everyone in the right position, he fits really good together with Licha Martinez and also the two full-backs did their job really good."
It does feel as if the Dutchman is implying Varane is simply capable of doing certain things on the pitch that Maguire is not. The four-time Champions League winner exudes confidence and calms those around him, something Maguire has often been guilty of doing the opposite of.
The superior technical quality of both Varane and Martinez means United were able to enjoy much more dominance on the ball than they have been used to in other recent fixtures, though it at times became a scrappy affair.
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"Difficult start, opponent really played direct, opportune, go for the second ball, we lost too many balls at the start of the game but after a certain period I think we found a better formation, especially over on the left side," the United boss claimed.
"And you see we can play between the lines and we adapted our game and we scored a great goal and from that moment on we dictated the game total."
After defeat in their opening group stage game at home to Real Sociedad, it was vital United picked up all three points on Thursday. The win did continue the notable trend of the Red Devils winning every time Maguire is taken out of the starting line-up.
Since his omission from all Premier League starting line-ups, United have won four from four including games against fellow big-six opposition like Liverpool and Arsenal. In contrast, Maguire was brought back into the line-up for the visit of Sociedad, which ended 1-0 to the Spanish outfit.
