Erik ten Hag has 'coached' Harry Maguire into new position at Man United

Erik ten Hag claims he has "coached" Harry Maguire into a new position after he returned to the side for Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup fifth round win over West Ham.

The Red Devils went 1-0 down in controversial fashion as the ball appeared to out for Said Benrahma's opener, but hit back with three goals in the latter stages.

Nayef Aguerd put through his own net before wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho curled in a beauty to put United 2-1 ahead in stoppage time.

Fred then seized on some slack play to confirm the victory and set up a quarter-final clash with Fulham.

After showing off the Carabao Cup trophy he lifted alongside Bruno Fernandes days prior, Maguire was handed a rare start at Old Trafford.

He's typically played as a left-side centre-back for both club and country but Ten Hag likes a left-footed player in that role to create more options in possession, hence Lisandro Martinez displacing Maguire at the heart of the backline.

Maguire, who has even played as a makeshift striker this season, was on the right side on Wednesday night and the United boss has revealed the club have given him all the tools to play in the slightly different role.

Image: Alamy

"It is my way of playing, or our way, and it is better,"’ Ten Hag said, as per Metro.

"I prefer to have a player with a lot of initiative [at right centre-back] and when you are left-footed you have better angles [at left centre-back].

"Harry can play on the left but right is obviously much better and today we have seen that.

"He had a good performance, he took initiative in and out of possession, and so he was dominating in defence but in offence he had some really good moments. He had good passes, good engagement with opponents and outplaying them. He played a good game.

"How do we help him with that? In training we give him coaching, we give him instructions. But also not that long ago we showed him a video of how to outplay opponents and how he can have more impact in possession in building up because his skills…he is really high-skilled. For a centre-back he has so many skills. He has to use that in a game."

Club captain Maguire has made 21 appearances in all competitions this term, but made just five starts in the Premier League.

The £80 million signing has been touted for a move away in the summer but recently said he understands why he isn't playing regularly and reiterated that Ten Hag believes he is a "top centre-half".

Image: Alamy

"The manager speaks to me daily, he really respects me and believes that I'm a top centre-half with all the attributes to play in his team," he said, as per The Mirror.

"But also he understands that the players who are playing – and I understand that the players who are playing – are playing very well.”