When Manchester United's Twitter account revealed Erik ten Hag's starting line-up an hour before the start of Monday evening's 2-1 victory over Liverpool, it is fair to say that it carried one or two surprises.
Although changes were guaranteed after the 4-0 hammering at the hands of Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium nine days earlier, it was always going to be intriguing to see who would be tasked with trying to help United become the first club to beat Liverpool in the Premier League in 2022. The omission of Cristiano Ronaldo was the most eye-catching decision, as he, surely, was the best option to help United try and score their first goal of the season via one of their own players.
Regardless of what is happening in relation to his future at United, he remains their most reliable source of goals. He scored 24 times last season in a campaign that saw United finish a disappointing sixth in the Premier League table. Anthony Elanga was preferred in attack, forcing Marcus Rashford to move inside.
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As well as Ronaldo being forced to drop out, there were also no places in Ten Hag's plan for Harry Maguire or Luke Shaw. The England duo were demoted to the bench, with Raphael Varane and new signing Tyrell Malacia preferred at centre-back and left-back, respectively.
MEN Sport revealed Ten Hag was considering dropping Maguire as far back as the middle of last week, meaning it was already clear that Lisandro Martinez, despite being hooked at half-time against Brentford, would retain his place. Martinez, who has been brought to Old Trafford to start games week-in, week-out, as opposed to topping up the squad, justified his inclusion, producing an outstanding display in the heart of the United rearguard, working in tandem with Varane, who proved exactly why he remains the best central-defender at the club.
To drop your club captain, particularly so soon after offering him your support by allowing him to retain the armband, and star striker takes huge amounts of bravery and courage. Ten Hag's decision to leave both Maguire and Ronaldo out from the start, not least against your fiercest rivals when you desperately need a result, takes guts. Ten Hag showed he has them.
You can argue that Maguire deserved dropping amid his poor performances over the past year or so, but he was better than Martinez was at Brentford, even if only marginally. What's more, to keep the Argentine in the firing line after a difficult opening two games was a huge call. However, it was a decision that paid off, just as the one to select Malacia over Shaw did.
It has proven that Ten Hag, regardless of the opposition, is prepared to make brave and bold decisions for the good of the team, even if it risks upsetting some of the more high-profile players in the squad. He is a renowned disciplinarian and has laid down the gauntlet to his players and everyone associated with the club, showing them exactly who's boss. United have needed a manager of his ilk for years, as opposed to managers who have pandered to player power.
For instance, following United's 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool last October, former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should have dropped Maguire and Shaw, at the very least, for the clash with Tottenham Hotspur just under a week later. Both kept their places. Other players continued to under-perform in the latter stages of Solskjaer's reign, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Bruno Fernandes and Rashford. They also kept their places when they should have been axed.
Ten Hag is operating differently, looking at the team and their collective responsibility as his main focus, instead of catering to the needs of individuals who think they are guaranteed a starting berth every week just because of the name on the back of their shirt. Ten Hag wants his players to fight and justify their inclusion.
The former Ajax boss had to do something to spark a reaction against Liverpool, and ditching four household names - Maguire, Shaw, Ronaldo and Fred - did exactly that, with those who came in justifying their inclusions. Although we're only three games into the Dutchman's premiership, and getting too carried away after just one win can be dangerous, Ten Hag has shown his players that they have to earn the right to play.
Ten Hag is giving United what they needed in that sense and it is long overdue. Nobody has a given right to start in one of his teams.
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