Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has promised that Donny van de Beek will not receive special treatment following their time together at Ajax, as the midfielder's recent poor performances shine a spotlight on the Dutchman's decision to select him in the starting XI.
Van de Beek was named in United's starting line-up for their final Europa League game against Real Sociedad, causing a fair few eyebrows to be raised. Although Ten Hag's side won the match 1-0, their failure to secure the much-needed two-goal margin has now seen them drawn against Barcelona for a two-legged play-off match in February.
Many saw Ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford as the perfect opportunity for Van de Beek to be brought back in from the cold and wipe the slate clean from what had been a disappointing start to his United career. However, the former Ajax man failed to take his chance in Spain.
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The suspension of Bruno Fernandes for United's next Premier League game against Aston Villa meant that Van de Beek was given another opportunity to show how good he can be. Once again, however, he failed to take it. The midfielder was by no means the only poor performer during the defeat at Villa Park, yet for a player who had the most to prove, it was an alarmingly candid display.
He was handed another chance of redemption when he started against the Villans again in Thursday's Carabao Cup clash. He made just 11 touches in the first half in yet another underwhelming outing and was hooked just after the hour mark when United went 2-1 down.
Ten Hag made it clear earlier in the season that Van de Beek would have to earn his place in the squad like any other player, regardless of the pair's previous relationship in the Eredivisie.
He said: "It's the same for every player, he has to do it by himself. Me as a manager and the coaching staff around him can do everything to set the right conditions so he can perform, but in the end the player has to do it by himself.
"They have to take responsibility for their performance. Donny has the capability. I have seen it, but he has to prove himself."
Every United fan wants Van de Beek to finally show what he can do at Old Trafford, but even the arrival of his former mentor at Ajax hasn't ignited his United career. If he continues to fail to take the chances being presented to him, Ten Hag has no other option than to look elsewhere.
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