Manchester United’s struggles not helped by Ten Hag’s selection spin

Players at Old Trafford fall in and out of favour at an astonishing rate as manager shuffles his squad in search of the right blend

Erilk ten Hag has stripped Harry Maguire of the captaincy. Pic: Adam Peck

A dysfunctional feature of Manchester United’s beleaguered season concerns how many players exist in an Erik ten Hag version of the famous line from the Godfather Part III. “Just when I thought I was out he pulls me back in” is how Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Raphaël Varane, Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and Sofyan Amrabat may think of their status of exile – or not – under the manager.

To varying degrees all have been rejected and reinstated as the Ten Hag executes (sometimes puzzling) U-turns that point to a confusion over who should be in the XI – or even his plans at all. As Ten Hag takes his embattled unit (played 24 in all competitions, lost 12, won 11, drawn one) to Liverpool on Sunday this is the opposite of ideal.