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Erik ten Hag to blame as Harry Maguire ‘stands wrong side of tunnel’ prior Brighton defeat

Erik ten Hag is reportedly to blame as Harry Maguire ‘stands the wrong side of the tunnel’ prior opening weekend defeat to Brighton.

Video footage from pre-match on Sunday shows Maguire and the rest of his teammates on the right side of the tunnel looking down towards the pitch.

However, David de Gea catches his captain’s eye and points to the left, but after what looked to be a slightly heated chat, Maguire then steps across and asks Seagulls skipper Lewis Dunk to switch his side across.

After the brief confusion before the opening day of the season, Maguire led his team out on the left before the two teams took their positions on the pitch, only for the Red Devils to lose 2-1. See more on that HERE.

However, while some people say the person to blame for Maguire’s minor blunder in the tunnel before kick off is new manager Erik ten Hag, as Twitter user @TuftyMUFC claims traditionally United have always come out on the tunnel that side. But since they have changed the location of the away dressing room, it’s caused confusion as away team now lines up on side their dressing room was on. So they needed to swap over.

It is understood the change to which side the players walk out is related to a switch made by the Dutch manager.

Over the summer it was decided the home and away dugouts would be swapped – with Ten Hag wanting the seats closer to the tunnel and the Stretford End.

He called for changes that could be made during his first visit to the stadium in May where he was accompanied by United football director John Murtough.

A club statement said: “In a new lay-out agreed with Erik, the home and away dugouts have been permanently switched so that the United manager, staff and substitutes will now be sat in the seats to the west of the halfway line – the dugout previously occupied by the away team.

“Erik approved the move after visiting Old Trafford for the first time in May and noting how the old away dugout was closer to the tunnel, and to the half of the pitch where substitutes warm up.

“Switching sides will also position the home staff and players closer to the Stretford End – the traditional heart of the home support – and align the dugouts with the halves of the pitch in which the home and away teams warm up before the game.”

It’s one of many changes he’s introduced, as in June it was revealed that he ordered ground staff to chop the grass to exactly 15mm.

He also implemented changes at meal times, including no mobile phones and making players eat together.

Ten Hag reportedly ordered the grass at United’s training ground to be trimmed, in order to better execute his passing plans. However, that’s not the only area where he’s made fresh demands.

“Ten Hag is all about training the brain,” a source close to the manager explained. “United’s players will do plenty of running – but they will run with the ball rather than just being asked to sprint up sand dunes.”

There have been clear rules off the pitch with players banned from bringing phones with them to team meals.

It’s not just here where Ten Hag has made his feelings clear, being vocal after Cristiano Ronaldo was among those to leave early during last weekend’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano.

“I certainly don’t condone this,” he said, “This is unacceptable. For everyone. We are a team and you have to stay until the end.”

Earlier in the summer, Arsenal technical director Edu spoke of the need to get rid of players – sometimes for nothing – rather than keep them around and risk them upsetting the dressing room atmosphere.

Two players suspected of being the source of leaks have now left Manchester United, and there may be more movement under Ten Hag’s watch.

Alex Telles had been involved with a training ground bust-up with Hannibal Mejbri last summer, and the Brazilian is now off to Sevilla. He’s one of as many as six fringe players who may be moved on.

While some have been offloaded and others might follow, Ten Hag has shown his players there’s always a chance to impress with James Garner and Ethan Laird featuring after loans last term, but perhaps the best example is Anthony Martial who looks to have no future at Old Trafford last season when he joined Sevilla on loan and struggled to make an impact in La Liga. He did however impress on tour and was a potential starter for the Premier League opener before injury struck.

Where do you see Man Utd finishing this season? Let us know via our socials.

Fans reacted with Erik ten Hag to blame as Harry Maguire ‘stands wrong side of tunnel’ prior Brighton defeat…

@ramsey_gyimah: Who gave this man the captaincy 😂😂

@LiamXCL: To be fair, the other 10 players are also stood there thinking nothing of it

@sbjorkavag: David De Gea noticed it

@StokeyyG2: Shame he can’t notice crosses!

@CFC_Janty: You can see De Gea absolutely hates him 😭😭😭

@GameRiotArmy: Amazing what clipping can do. Brighton had already come out and taken the wrong side.

@AlexTownroe: 10 other players stood there thinking nothing of it… this maguire agenda is the stupidest shit ever.

@mancbast3: De gea hates him 😂😂 shouldn’t laugh but honestly if I don’t at this point I may just pass away

@AndrewYee2: Although Maguire should have known. De Gea did. There is a reason. We used to line up on left but this season Ten Hag has changed location of dressing room. Brighton arrived first and were on the “wrong” side. Still, its not a good look though!! Sums up United right now

@TOTAL_JAAP: I like how that’s the only thing David de Gea did right that day 😭😭😭

@MufcWonItAll: Ten Hag swapped the dugouts around so now they have swapped how they come out of the tunnel. United have always come out the tunnel on the side Maguire is originally on just for context.

@uyioghosaSamuel: Everyday these lots wake up and find something to blame Maguire for… couldn’t fault his performance so they target the tunnel incident where Maguire peharps forgot we changed dug outs this season like any other human would

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