Erik ten Hag's Ajax blueprint is set to give Manchester United a double defensive boost

Though Harry Maguire is Manchester United's best centre back on the ball, his defensive form this season has left many fans worried that he will not survive under Erik ten Hag. However, like many players at the club, Maguire's form at international level has been a lot better.

Despite his issues at United, the defender is still a guaranteed starter for England, and Gareth Southgate sees Maguire as a key member of his squad, even though he did concede that competition for places could eventually see him lose his spot. “He got us to a World Cup semi‑final and the European Championship final so there’s no doubt he’s more than capable of playing at the highest level," Southgate said.

“He was very good for us in the autumn and the club are in a difficult moment. There could be any number of reasons for that. But that doesn’t mean that players can be poor for a couple of years and then still find their way in and sometimes it depends on competition for positions."

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Many United fans have tried to figure out why Maguire plays so much better for country than he does for club. Some have commented that England have a clearly defined system and style of play which makes all of their players look better - not just Maguire - while others have simply said it's because he plays in a back three for his country, even if England's formations do vary.

But the good news for those in either camp is that Ten Hag will implement aspects of both. The Dutchman's system has been discussed in detail by United fans as well as how he puts emphasis on possession, building from the back and also his defenders breaking the opposition lines.

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