Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has accused Erik ten Hag of ‘lying’ about Harry Maguire following Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Despite losing his place in the United team earlier this season, Maguire had been tipped to get some games under his belt after an impressive World Cup campaign for England, especially as Raphael Varane and Lisandro missed games as they reached the final in Qatar.
But Maguire missed the League Cup win over Burnley due to illness and left-back Luke Shaw was selected ahead of him for United’s first Premier League fixture since the mid-season break.
Ten Hag explained before the win over Nottingham Forest that Maguire and other players had been suffering with a virus ahead of the match.
Maguire came on in the second half, but Parker claims that Ten Hag “fabricated’ the story about Maguire being ill and insists that the beleaguered United captain was fully ready to play.
Parker told Bonus Code Bets, as per The Mirror: “First of all we have to say that Luke Shaw did very well playing as a centre half. He barely made a mistake and Manchester United didn’t really miss Harry Maguire.
“But to be honest, I don’t believe the story about Harry Maguire being ill. It was a lie and it is totally fabricated. It doesn’t make any sense at all. On a cold rainy night in Manchester, there is no way you would ever let an ill man sit on the bench if he wasn’t ready. He was ready but Erik ten Hag preferred to play with Luke Shaw.”
Maguire may have only started one Premier League match since August – but I’m not sure Parker knows anymore about Maguire’s situation than the Average Joe on social media.
I don’t see how Parker thinks Ten Hag is lying.
Ten Hag will hope he has more players available for the trip to Wolves on Saturday.