Andy Cole urges ten Hag to decide on Maguire's future in the summer

Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez made a brilliant defensive duo during their encouraging Premier League campaign this season, forcing Harry Maguire out of starting line-up. After allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to depart the club this January, Andrew Cole expects Erik ten Hag to be as firm with Maguire.

Cole told

:

"That's ultimately down to the manager. I think Manchester United for many years have really struggled to find defensive partnerships.

"If you look at the money they've spent on centre-halves… Maguire, [Victor] Lindelof, [Eric] Bailly, obviously Varane and Martinez now.

"That's five, and if you look at the money they've spent, it's easily over £200million on centre-halves. I think now they've finally got a partnership which looks right.

"For Maguire, it has been difficult. He struggled at the backend of last season, went to the World Cup and did well, came back and struggled at Manchester United.

"The manager has made a decision to go with these two, Varane and Martinez, who have been absolutely brilliant."

Asked about Ten Hag's style of management, Cole added:

"With the way football is now, it's about managing people.

"You're managing and massaging egos, that's what football is about.

"It's not like you can treat every individual the same. They're not all the same, some react to things better than others.

"From the outside looking in, it looks like he [Ten Hag] is very disciplined. The players respect him, he respects the players and he is getting the best out of them, that's what you want."

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