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Topics: Manchester United, Football, Tyrell Malacia, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Tyrell Malacia, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League
Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia says he understands why Erik ten Hag dropped him earlier this season.
Malacia, 23, became Ten Hag's first signing as United manager when he joined the Premier League club in a £13m move from Feyenoord in July.
The Netherlands international almost immediately established himself in the first-team at Old Trafford, replacing Luke Shaw in the starting line-up after United suffered successive defeats in their first two games of the campaign.
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But a disappointing performance in the damaging 6-3 defeat to rivals Manchester City in October, coupled with a mistake that allowed Omonia to take the lead against United in the Europe League just days later, saw Malacia dropped by Ten Hag.
He was benched for the next five league games before making a late substitute appearance against Aston Villa in November.
Malacia was handed his first start in nearly a month against Fulham prior to the winter break, playing at right-back in place of the suspended Diogo Dalot.
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He has since started at left-back in both of United's matches since the season resumed – a 2-0 win over Burnley in the Carabao Cup round of 16 and Tuesday's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, in which Shaw deputised at centre-back alongside Raphael Varane.
Malacia says he understands why he was dropped by Ten Hag.
"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.
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"I just have to make sure that I train well, I did that. [Ten Hag] also said to me.
“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."
Malacia is now keen to kick on and could be handed another opportunity to impress in United's next match against Wolves on Saturday.
"I just have to make sure I play well," added Malacia.
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"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.
"I know I'm fighting myself back in the base."