Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha believes Erik ten Hag must show more respect to Raphael Varane and Casemiro who ‘didn’t join to sit on the bench’.
The former Real Madrid stars played key roles in United’s improved season last term, winning the Carabao Cup and finishing third in the Premier League in the Dutchman’s first campaign in charge.
Ten Hag has not been afraid to make the big calls during his time at Old Trafford. Varane, who scored United’s opening goal of the season against Wolves, has started just one of their last 10 matches, slipping down the pecking order with Harry Maguire back in the manager’s plans.
Both Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof have been preferred to the World Cup winner to partner Maguire at the back.
Casemiro, who joined United last summer in a £70m deal, is currently sidelined until the New Year but was hooked at half-time in his last two appearances against Brentford and in the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United.
Recent reports have suggested ten Hag’s relationship with Varane has ‘broken down’ while Casemiro is said to be considering his future in Manchester.
Saha believes ten Hag has shown a trait for making harsher decisions on his more experienced members of the squad.
While he believes that can have its rewards in laying down the law to the rest of the group, the former striker believes it is a ‘risky’ move with decorated players like Varane and Casemiro.
‘The thing I can see with ten Hag is he tends to be willing to make more harsh selection decisions on the players that have way more experience than the young players who still have a lot to learn,’ he told Betting Odds.
‘These players are the finished product, and it’s clear ten Hag will say if you don’t perform for two or three games then you are out, which maybe gives a strong message to the rest of the players that if Varane or Casemiro can be dropped, then anybody can be.
‘That could be good, but it is a risky strategy for ten Hag.
‘I feel like you have to give those players a bit more respect, because they didn’t join United to sit on the bench.’
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