Erik ten Hag said Harry Maguire’s replacement during Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Fulham on Friday night was only a precautionary one.
The Red Devils’ Premier League campaign got off to a strong start as summer addition Joshua Zirkzee scored a late victory off the bench.
Although Maguire had already left the field—having been replaced by Jonny Evans six minutes earlier—that goal occurred in the 87th minute.
As he exited the pitch, the England center defender appeared to be limping, but Ten Hag said Maguire is not hurt.
‘Not injured but I had to bring him off because he had a problem,’ the Dutchman told Sky Sports. ‘Before he gets injured, a precaution.
‘The win is very important of course, but I’m so happy no injuries today.’
Maguire partnered Lisandro Martinez in the middle of defence, with Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot at full-back, while Matthijs de Ligt came off the bench to make his Red Devils debut late in the game.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes De Ligt will ultimately come into the team in place of Maguire at centre-back, with the Dutch defender and Martinez likely to be first choices.
‘If I’m being totally honest, Jonny Evans has probably come in to help the club out and last season finds himself here,’ said Carragher. Harry Maguire is probably not going to find himself as first choice.
‘You’re probably not going to play him and De Ligt together, probably too similar, so I would imagine De Ligt and Martinez would play.’
Speaking to the BBC about his team’s performance, Ten Hag said: ‘I think the performance was OK. The win is very pleasing, To start the season with a win is always important. We are not ready as a squad, as a team, many players are not up to full fitness. We only had 10 days with this team training together.
‘I expect more from this team, but we have a foundation we can build on.
‘The performance is good, over 90 minutes of course there is room for improvement. But I think all over the performance and execution of the game plan was very good.’