Manchester United star Tyrell Malacia opens up on being dropped by Erik ten Hag

Tyrell Malacia has started seven league games for Man Utd this season (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Tyrell Malacia says he will keep fighting to be a part of Manchester United’s first-team after suffering from a big drop in form earlier this season.

The 23-year-old became Erik ten Hag’s first signing at Old Trafford over the summer when he moved from Feyenoord in a deal worth £13million.

While it was thought that he would just be back-up to Luke Shaw, Malacia was handed his full United debut just three games into the campaign after the England international struggled in the abysmal defeats to Brighton and Brentford.

Against arch-rivals Liverpool, Malacia performed brilliantly and retained his spot at left-back as Ten Hag’s side got up and running.

But after the dreadful 6-3 defeat to Manchester City, the defender found himself back on the bench and failed to feature at all in United’s next five Premier League games, though he still appeared in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.

‘I just didn’t play well [against City]. In the next match I had a small mistake. Then the trainer has to make choices,’ Malacia said.

‘I just have to make sure that I train well, I did that. [Ten Hag] also said to me.’

Malacia was Erik ten Hag’s first Man Utd signing (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Malacia’s next league start came just before the World Cup break against Fulham, but only to fill in at right-back in place of the suspended Diogo Dalot.

After failing to play for the Netherlands at Qatar 2022, he returned to Manchester and started both of United’s first two games back – the 2-0 cup win over Burnley and the 3-0 league win against Nottingham Forest.

But with Ten Hag’s defensive players returning to full fitness, it remains to be seen whether Malacia will keep his place in the team for United’s final match of 2022, against Wolves on New Year’s Eve.

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‘I just have to make sure I play well. I know I’m fighting myself back in the base,’ he added.

‘I am happy that I can now stand there again. I know myself well, I know what is not going well. I had to go back to basics and now things are going well again.

‘I already played against Burnley, that’s nice. I want to continue that line. I started well here, had a small dip, but I know myself.’

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