Manchester United beat Southampton 1-0, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the lone goal in the second half. Ahead of the match, it was announced that Dutch manager Erik ten Hag was benching Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro, and Harry Maguire for the game. The former Ajax coach opted to go with the team that beat Liverpool 2-1. 

Despite Frenchman Anthony Martial picking up an injury and missing the latest United fixture, ten Hag kept Ronaldo on the bench, only bringing him on as a substitute. 

When asked by BT Sport ahead of the match, the 52-year-old explained, “I think we have a squad that’s quite competitive, so that’s always a difficult decision. But, as you say, we had a really good performance on Monday and then you stick to it, but it’s also to give Casemiro the time”, adding, “He has not played one game, 90 minutes, so he has to adapt to England, has to adapt to Man United and to give him the time to integrate in the team.” 

Also Read | FIFA lifts ban on India, allows country to host U-17 Women’s World Cup

The Brazilian recently arrived from Real Madrid and is expected to bolster the United midfield. However, ten Hag did bring on Casemiro as a substitute, easing the 30-year-old into the team’s playstyle. 

Speaking of the decision to bench Maguire and Ronaldo, ten Hag said “As a person, it’s always considerations but as a manager, you have to take clear decisions”, adding, “The team is most important. You make the decision which is right for the team, no matter who it is, but in your communication, you have to be clear and have to be honest.” 

The Dutchman brought on the Portuguese striker in the second half as well, with commentators speculating on whether Ronaldo would be leaving United before the transfer window closes, as has been the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s wish. However, Maguire didn’t see any action for two games in a row, and the 27-year-old Fernandes has now taken over the role of captain for these two matches. 

Also Read | Season of flopps: 5 reasons for Liverpool’s struggles so far

Post-match analysis indicates that Maguire’s future in United, and by extension, his position in the English national team could be up in the air for now. The Dutchman seems to have settled in on his central defenders playing a combination of Raphael Varane and recent Ajax transfer Lisandro Martinez. Once Casemiro settles in, the central defensive midfielder will further strengthen the team’s defensive capabilities, leaving some doubts about Maguire’s future at the club. However, former United midfielder Paul Scholes noted that Varane is prone to injuries and Maguire sitting out a few games in a row, and returning to a more confident United that has got a winning streak, could help the defender’s form. 

As for Ronaldo’s transfer, the ageing striker has not found any takers but is keeping his dreams of playing in the Champions League alive. Ronaldo’s agent – after facing rejections from top-tier clubs – has approached the likes of Olympique Marseilles and Napoli as well. Meanwhile, ten Hag has maintained that he wishes to move forward with Ronaldo as part of his plans, but given the Dutchman’s tendency to play a high-press, fast-paced game, the 37-year-old is not likely to play an entire 90-minute fixture even if he decides to remain at Old Trafford.