Man Utd news: Erik ten Hag has been questioned over his decision to play Harry Maguire as striker (Image: GETTY)
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been warned how his decision to play Harry Maguire as a striker will have repercussions on his squad. Ten Hag made the surprise decision late on in Thursday's win over Real Sociedad and former West Ham striker Dean Ashton has labelled the call "laughable".
United needed to beat Sociedad by two clear goals to clinch top spot in their Europa League group. Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for the Red Devils to give them the perfect start in the first half.
However, Ten Hag's side were unable to double their advantage. In a desperate attempt to grab a second, Ten Hag brought on Maguire and threw him up front.
Ashton was commentating on the match and immediately questioned the decision. And he also wondered what effect it will have on the likes of Anthony Elanga, who was a natural attacking option left on the bench in San Sebastian.
Ashton said on talkSPORT: "Has Erik ten Hag worked on this on the training pitch, Harry Maguire as a centre forward. If he has, fair enough. But if he hasn’t and it’s a spur of the moment thing… it’s bizarre, really bizarre.
“Man United have come second in their group and they’ve only got themselves to blame. Real Sociedad have done a real job on them in the second half.
“It’s laughable to bring on Maguire up front at the end, what does that say to the likes of Anthony Elanga?”
Elanga started for United in Sunday's win over West Ham at Old Trafford. However, he is yet to score a goal in Ten Hag's tenure as boss.
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Man Utd news: Anthony Elanga remained on the bench against Real Sociedad (Image: Getty)
Ten Hag insists his side deserved to come away from the group stage as winners. However, they will now face a play-off against a team dropping down from the Champions League next February.
Ten Hag said: "You do not always get what you deserve. I think tonight that is the fact.
"I think we played a good route in the group, we won five times, only one defeat and the defeat is by a penalty where you can have discussions. Of course we wanted to win today with two goals' difference, to be number one.
"That was the aim, we didn't succeed but after the winter, we are still there to win the Europa League and that is always but we have to go from round to round. We have to focus on that next round and that is what we will do."
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