Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag gave Aaron Wan-Bissaka a rare start in Manchester United's Carabao Cup win with the £50m defender's future up in the air amid a potential ...

[told Football Insider.](https://www.footballinsider247.com/solskjaer-is-exposing-wan-bissaka-and-this-is-poor-management-after-man-united-latest-pundit/) “It puts him in a position where you have to be better on the ball than defending one-on-one. There was interest from the London outfit back in the summer about a potential Wan-Bissaka return. The Eagles are seen as part of a potential rescue mission that could enable Wan-Bissaka to rediscover his best form. Ten Hag is very much seeking to lead a Manchester outfit that will, eventually, become the type of team that dominates possession and imposes their style on other teams. [Harry Maguire](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/harry-maguire) was another perceived favourite. Wan-Bissaka had enjoyed a breakout year at [Crystal Palace](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/crystal-palace-fc) and had the young English player premium placed upon him, which eventually saw the Red Devils part with £50m. Danny Mills, a former England right-back, echoed that and claimed the system exposed his flaws. That meant their defenders were more involved in the attack, which didn't play to Wan-Bissaka's strengths. The Norwegian's Manchester exit this time last year was always going to be followed by a reshuffle. He’s had some good years with United, but from the start of this season he had a lot of illnesses and injuries, and so was running behind. The Portuguese star was quick to dislodge Wan-Bissaka following Solskjaer's dismissal. The United boss is very much working his way through assessing the squad he's inherited at Old Trafford.

Wan-Bissaka came into the starting line-up, with Diogo Dalot unavailable, as United returned to action after the World Cup with a Carabao Cup fourth-round ...

Tyrell Malacia was another, along with Casemiro, being utilised as a central defender in the absence of World Cup finalists Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, and Harry Maguire, who was ill. "From the restart on, he's fit, he could train with the team, and you see him progressing. So I'm happy with his performance, he did good."

Manchester United marched into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a routine 2-0 win over Championship table-toppers Burnley at Old Trafford on ...

[Carabao Cup](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/carabao-cup), even though there has often been scope for him to ring the changes and give his fringe players a taste of the action. The Scot won the trophy four times during his spell as manager and highlighted the importance of it ahead of United's last appearance in the final of this competition back in 2017 under Jose Mourinho. With four of the Premier League's traditional 'big six' already out, United are one of the favourites to go all the way. It made for a strong and experienced XI, meaning it was clear that the former Ajax boss was determined to avoid a cup upset. Ten Hag, though, takes every game seriously and evidently has aspirations of delivering a trophy in his maiden season as United manager. It was widely anticipated that he would build his side around the crop of younger players that went to Spain during the World Cup break for a warm-weather training camp. But the likes of Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Rashford all started. It was a strong and professional showing from Erik ten Hag's side, meaning they have won each of their last three matches. The Manchester City also joined them in the next round on Thursday evening after beating Liverpool 3-2. [Reds](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) entered the competition at the third round stage and dispatched of Aston Villa, winning 4-2 in a topsy-turvy tie at Old Trafford. [Christian Eriksen](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/christian-eriksen) and [Marcus Rashford](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/marcus-rashford) sealed the Reds' spot in the last-eight for the third time in the last four seasons.